The Ventura College women's soccer team opened their 2023 season Friday with a 3-1 setback against Canyons at the VC Sportsplex. Jillian Smith scored the Pirates' lone goal in her first game in the orange and black.
Canyons got on the board first with a quick goal in the second minute of the contest.
In the 17th minute, defender Daisy Vaca hit a solid shot over the Canyons defense that was chased down by Smith, who put a shot into the net to level the score at 1-1.
CoC responded quickly again, however, netting another score in the 20th minute of play.
Ventura had a solid chance in the 43rd minute of play when Crystal Vargas pushed the ball down the left side, sending a crossing pass deep across the goal area that Smith narrowly missed redirecting into the net. The Pirates trailed 2-1 at halftime.
Both defenses were stingy in the final half of play, with VC on the defensive for most of the period. Led by the efforts of Vaca, and goalkeeper Isa Garcia, Ventura held off Canyons for a time before the Cougars put the game away in the 72nd minute with a rocket shot from 20 yards out that sailed just under the crossbar.
Ventura managed just two shots on goal in the match while Garcia turned back five of the Cougars' shots on goal.
VC's next outing will be on Thursday Aug. 31 against San Francisco at the Sportsplex. The match concludes the first day of the three-day New Balance Community College Showcase in Ventura. The Pirates will also host West Valley on Saturday Sept. 2 at 3:00 pm.