WOMEN'S SOCCER: The women's soccer team has had just one coach in its 18-plus years of existence, Steve Hoffman. On Tuesday, they both earned their 300th victory as the Pirates blanked Oxnard College 2-0 at the Sportsplex. Macey Herrera scored in the first half and Abigail Littleton netted a score in the second while goalie Hailee Powell notched her third consecutive shutout for VC (7-1-1).
Coach Hoffman was quick to deflect praise to his teams following the game. "Coaches don't win games," he told his team, "players do. And I have been blessed to have a lot of good ones over the years."
He was also quick to praise this year's team and how they are already leaving their mark on the legacy of the program.
Ventura came into the game knowing they would overmatch their opponent, and did not play with the same spark as they would against a ranked opponent. They still were able to generate scoring chances early. Herrera had a straight on shot saved by the Condor goal keeper in the second minute, and neither Taylor C'debaca's shot from the right side, and the ensuing rebound that was headed by Herrera were able to find the net in the eighth minute. In the ninth, Guadalupe Magaña had a free kick sail just above the crossbar before Herrera nailed a shot from outside the box that floated inside the upper right corner of the goal for a 1-0 VC lead.
The Pirates were limited in their scoring chances from that point on, and OC's best chance to equalize came in the 43rd minute on a corner kick.
Littleton wasted no time as the second half began, scoring an unassisted goal in the 46th minute to set the final margin. Delanie Gavid had a shot sail wide left in the 70th minute and Ventura made a couple or runs late. Littleton turned and rocketed a shot straight on in the 90th minute, but the Condor goalie punched it above the crossbar to keep the score 2-0 at the final whistle.
VC heads to Los Angeles Pierce College on Friday Oct. 11 for a key Western State Conference matchup at 4:00 pm. They will return home against Santa Barbara on Tuesday Oct. 15 at 5:30 pm.