Soccer Has Little Trouble With Bulldogs

The Ventura College soccer team continued its march through the Western State Conference North Division with a 4-0 shutout win over Allan Hancock College Friday night at the VC Sportsplex. Julie Marcelo, Jennifer Ramirez, Alix Tirado and Justice Jones all scored goals for the Pirates (13-2-3, 7-0-2), who stretched their unbeaten streak to 12 games. Kambria Haughton recorded the shutout in goal.

The Pirates, ranked No. 12 in the state, overmatched the Bulldogs from the start, producing a scoring chance in hte first minute of the game. Marcelo hit a through ball to Tirado on the left side, but the shot was saved by AHC. 

Five minutes later, The tables were turned as Tirado made a nice run down the right side before sending a centering pass to Marcelo, whose one-touch hit the back of the net for a 1-0 Ventura lead.

Ventura had another chance in the 10th minute when Maggie Mordecai settled a VC corner kick for a shot that was also saved by the Bulldogs.

In the 17th minute, Ramirez settled a pass on the right side before slotting a shot under the charging goal keeper and inside the far post to make the score 2-0 for the Pirates.

The game settled in for a bit from that point before VC went on the offensive again in the 36th minute. Valerie Hernandez took a rebound off a shot, sending a centering pass to Tirado around 12-yards out. the Pirates' leading scorer then settled the pass before shooting and scoring for a 3-0 Ventura lead. It was Tirado's 20th goal of the year.

After halftime, play settled in and neither team produced many scoring chances. In the 66th minute, Tirado did send a centering pass to Lizbeth Payne, but that scoring chance was turned back by Hancock. 

The fog began to roll in 10 minutes later, and Jones was able to burst through for a score in the 84th minute to set the final margin.

With three games conference games remaining, Ventura and LA Pierce have separated themselves out from the rest of the pack. The Pirates have totaled 23 points in WSC North play, and the Brahmas 17, giving VC a comfortable cushion in the conference race headed down the stretch.

Ventura next travels to Oxnard on Tuesday Nov. 2 for a 4:00 pm game.