Playing at home for the first time in a month, the hard luck continued for the Ventura College women's soccer team. They produced 90-plus minutes of solid effort, but could not find a way to break through in a 2-1 loss to unbeaten Rio Hondo College Thursday evening at the VC Sportsplex. Josselyne Pereda scored in the 21st minute for the Pirates, but they could not find the equalizer in the loss.
Playing with a brisk ocean breeze at their backs, the Roadrunners were the aggressors early. They netted their first goal in the 11th minute to take a 1-0 lead. VC (1-6-2) responded positively with scoring chances shortly thereafter. Rae Ritchie hit a high cross from the right side in the 13th minute that Pereda could not corral in the box in front of the net.
Jennifer Orozco had a strong run at the goal during this time, as well, before assisting Pereda's goal in the 21st minute to level the score at 1-1. Neither team manufactured many more scoring chances for the remainder of the first half, and the teams went into intermission tied.
With the wind at their backs, the VC offense produced scoring chances in the final 45 minutes of the contest. 12 minutes in to the second half, Rio Hondo cleared a Ventura corner kick to a waiting Sasha Ceja, who sent a rocket just over the goal from 30 yards out. Ritchie grazed the crossbar from deep on the right side in the 63rd minute and had a free kick from 25 yards out punched over the net by the Rio Hondo goalie later in the half.
The Roadrunners scored the game winner on a contentious play in which they knocked the Pirate goal keeper to the ground before finding the back of the net in traffic. Rio led 2-1 with 20 minutes remaining.
Ventura kept up the fight, however, keeping pressure on the Roadrunner defense, but to no avail. The final whistle sounded following a final VC attack, including a corner kick, to finalize the 2-1 result.
Although the Pirate effort was solid, they only managed four shots on goal in the game. Amy Neidiffer had two saves defensively in goal for VC.
Ventura completes its non-conference schedule with a trip to highly-ranked Fresno City College on Saturday Oct. 3 for a 4:00 pm match. VC opens Western State Conference play Tuesday Oct. 6 at Moorpark at 2:00 pm.