Despite a valiant effort in which the outcome of the game was in question for 88 minutes, the Pirates' women's soccer team fell at No. 1-ranked Cerritos College 4-1 Saturday evening in Norwalk. Rae Ritchie gave the Pirates a 1-0 advantage with an early goal, but Ventura (1-5-2) could not make it hold up in the loss.
Ritchie found the back of the net in the fifth minute off of an assist by Josselyne Pereda. The Falcons, who won the state title in 2014, put away the equalizer in the 15th minute.
The teams stayed level for much of the remaining time until Cerritos punched in the game-winner in the 78th minute. The game remained in doubt, however, until the Falcons scored twice in the final two minutes of play to set the final margin.
Goal keeper Amy Neidiffer recorded six saves for Ventura.
The Pirates end their six match road swing and return home for the first time in over a month as they host Rio Hondo College on Thursday Oct. 1. The match is set to kick off at 6:00 pm at the VC Sportsplex.