Pirates Smash Pierce to Close Regular Season

VC freshman Jacqueline Rivera had two goals and an assist as the Pirates defeated LA Pierce 5-0 Friday in the team's regular season finale.
VC freshman Jacqueline Rivera had two goals and an assist as the Pirates defeated LA Pierce 5-0 Friday in the team's regular season finale.

The VC women's soccer team took out a week's worth of frustration on visiting Los Angeles Pierce Friday, placing a 5-0 smashing on the Brahmas in the regular season finale at the VC Sportsplex. Ventura, who had suffered consecutive losses to slide from first to third in the Western State Conference North Division, received two goals and an assist by Jacqueline Rivera and Sammy Zanini while Jasmin Ambriz also found the back of the net. Goalie Aracely Castro posted her ninth shutout of the season.

Rivera got Ventura (12-6-2, 7-4-1) on the board in the sixth minute, knocking in a header from Jacky Espinosa's pass. Zanini doubled the lead with an unassisted goal from 20-yards out seven minutes later. Ventura led 2-0 at halftime.

In the 55th minute, Rivera assisted Zanini's second goal of the night, this one a shot from 25 yards out to seal the deal at 3-0.  VC was not done, however, as Zanini returned the favor for a goal by Rivera in the 61st minute, and Ambriz converted an Isabella DeRosa assist in the 71st minute.

Castro recorded three saves in registering the shutout victory, the Pirates' 10th shutout on the year.

Ventura now awaits their playoff seeding, to be announced in the coming days. The Pirates are looking forward to their213rd post-season appearance in the 24-year history of the program under head coach Steve Hoffman.