2023 Ventura College Women's Soccer Team News
The Ventura College Athletic Department claimed its 14th Top-13 finish in 19 years, placing 13th in California in the 2023-24 all-sports National Association of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) Cup standings. Pirate Athletics totaled 106 points overall, besting its 105.5 points earned in 2022-23 that placed 12th. Ventura was also 17th for the second straight year in the Daktronics Cup Standings with two-years schools from California, Oregon and Washington.
The Ventura College Athletic Department is proud to announce the transfer of 71 student athletes to four-year schools following their time with the Pirates. 48 of those transfers plan to continue their sport with 34 earning athletic scholarships. The VC class of 2024 will transfer to 48 different schools in 19 different states across the country. Additionally, 17 of the Pirate alumni have earned academic scholarships at their new schools.
First year VC soccer player Andrea Ibarra was named first team All-Western State Conference by the North Division coaches following the 2023 season. Meanwhile, sophomore Elissa Merlos and freshman defender Desire Lopez were named to the second team All-WSC north team.
On Paper, it was not supposed to be close between No. 14-seeded Ventura and No. 3 Long Beach Saturday in the second round of the Southern California Regional Playoffs. In reality, just 46 hours after defeating Moorpark in penalties to advance, the Pirates left everything on the field again and played the Vikings to a scoreless draw through 76 minutes of soccer before yielding the eventual game winner to LBCC. Even thin, VC continued the fight to the final whistle, living up to the highest expectations for the team in their season finale.
After 120 minutes of hard fought scoreless soccer and nine penalty kicks between Moorpark and Ventrua in the first round of the 3C2A Southern California Regional Playoffs, it came down to Desire. With the season on the line and the teams tied 4-4 in penalties, Pirate freshman Desire Lopez calmly slotted her final strike inside the left post and into the net to push VC into the next round of the post-season. Ventura goalie Sibella Donnelly had three saves in two hours of play to help send the game to penalties.
Since the inception of the VC women's soccer program in 1996, one thing has been almost a certainty, the Pirates would be playing in the post season. This season is no different. For the 26th time in the 27-season history of the program, the Pirates' women's soccer team is in the playoffs. The No. 14-seeded Pirates will host No. 19 Moorpark in Thursday Nov. 16 at 7:00 pm at the VC Sportsplex.
The Pirates' women's soccer team dropped their regular season finale Friday 3-1 at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria. Yahaira Ramirez scored Ventura's lone goal in the 90th minute of the game to prevent the shutout against the Bulldogs.
The Pirates' women's soccer team controlled much of the game Friday night against visiting Oxnard. Ventura outshot the Condors 21-2, but with OC playing for the tie and parking as many as eight defenders in front of the goal, the Pirates were unable to find the inside of the net in the 0-0 draw. Sophomore goalie Isa Garcia posted the shutout for Ventura, but was never tested as Oxnard took a huge bite out of the Pirates' playoff hopes.
The Ventura College women's soccer team posted a tough 2-1 Halloween-night victory over Los Angeles Pierce College at the Sportsplex Tuesday. Jennifer Galindo had a goal and an assist to lead the Pirates (9-5-5, 4-3-3) as they remain in the thick of the playoff chase earning the three points in the Western State Conference table. Isa Garcia anchored the triumph in goal and the VC defense limited the Brahmas to four shots during the game.
The Pirates' women's soccer team dropped a 4-1 result at Moorpark College Friday afternoon. Karen Saldana had VC's only goal of the game and Daisy Vaca was singled out for her strong play in the game.
The VC women's soccer team came back with game-tying goals twice on Wednesday night in their 2-2 draw at Santa Barbara City College. Eli Padilla and Daisy Vaca each netted scores for the Pirates in their second tie with the Vaqueros this season.
The Pirates' women's soccer team began the second round of Western State Conference play Friday with a 2-0 shutout victory over visiting Cuesta at the Sportsplex. Elisa Merlos and Eli Padilla each netted scores and Isa Garcia returned from injury to shutout the Cougars in goal. VC had a dominant performance with 17 shots with nine on target.
After falling behind 2-0 early in the second half, the Pirates' women's soccer team mounted a furious comeback effort against visiting Allan Hancock Tuesday at the Sportsplex. Crystal Vargas scored to halve the deficit, and VC kept the pressure on the Bulldogs until the final whistle, but could not find the equalizer in the 2-1 setback.
The VC women's soccer team got back in the win column Tuesday with a 3-0 shutout victory at Oxnard College. Andrea Ibarra scored twice in the first half and Alliyah Flores added a goal late to set the margin. Sibella Donnelly recorded her fifth shutout of the year in goal and Elissa Merlos had a great game at center back. Desire Lopez led a host of other players who provided solid outings for the Pirates in the triumph.
The VC women's soccer team played to a 1-1 draw Friday afternoon against Los Angeles Pierce on a hot fall day in Woodland Hills. After conceding an early score, the Pirates (6-3-4, 1-1-2) netted an equalizer when Andrea Ibarra scored on a penalty kick just before halftime. Ventura goalie Sibella Donnelly kept the Brahmas out of the goal for the remainder of the contest to help earn the point.
For only the third time in 12 games, the Pirates' women's soccer team fell to defeat, falling 1-0 to visiting Moorpark Tuesday evening. For the second straight game, VC (6-3-3, 1-1-1) was unable to take advantage of limited offensive chances in the shutout loss to the Raiders. Ventura had seven shots in the game with three on goal.
