Ventura College women's intercollegiate soccer program will hold its first alumnae game and barbeque to celebrate the program's 20th anniversary on Friday March 11. On this date, the current Pirates will kick-off their non-traditional season with a scrimmage against the alumnae at the Ventura College Sportsplex, with players meeting at 5:00 pm and the game beginning at 6:15 pm.
All VC women's soccer alumnae are invited to play in the game, or to come home to visit with former teammates at the alumnae barbeque. Family members are invited join in on the fun as head coach Steve Hoffman is looking forward to catching up with his extended Pirate family. It will be a great time for all former Pirates to realize their outstanding contributionto the 20-year history of the program.
Over the past 20 years, the Ventura College women's soccer alumnae have created one of the most successful programs in the country. Student athletes have matriculated to four-year schools at an unbelievable rate of 90 percent. On the field, the program has achieved an overall conference record of 216 wins, 21 losses and 17 ties. They have advanced to one California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Final Four, eight SoCal Regional Finals and advanced to post-season play for 19 consecutive years. The team has won 15 Western State Conference championships, with three WSC runner-up finishes. Along the way, the Pirates had an unbeaten conference streak that lasted 46 games and spanned four years.
The 20-year legacy of the program includes a number team honors. The program was ranked among the top-20 community colleges teams in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in 14 of the last 20 years. The Pirates were ranked in the top-15 for nine consecutive seasons while receivinng a top ranking of No. 2 in the nation by the NSCAA. The team has won four CCCAA State Scholar Team awards and two NSCAA Scholar Academic Awards. Seven times the program was honored by the Ventura County Star with its Team of the Year award.
A number of individuals have been honored nationally including Daisy Cardona '12 who was selected as the NSCAA National Player of the Year. Fourteen players have been named as NSCAA All-Americans, and 21 players have earned NSCAA All West Regional accolades. The program has also had nine WSC Most Valuable Player awards, seven Ventura College Female Athlete of the Year awards, and five Ventura College Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards. Three women's soccer alumnae, Joy Barry '97, Chrissy Sanford '98, and Barbara Almarez '99, have been inducted into the Ventura College Athletics Hall of Fame. An impressive 105 players have been selected first team All-WSC and another 85 earned second-team All-WSC honors.
Head Coach Steve Hoffman has directed the team from the beginning. He was inducted into the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and has earned WSC Coachof the Year honors seven times. He was an NSCAA All West Regional Coach of the Year and was nominated for a NSCAA National Coach of the Year Award, as well.
It has been a fantastic 20 years of Pirate Soccer and the program's excellence will continue this season when Ventura College hosts the state championships for the second time. All alumnae, family, and fans are invited to the Sportsplex on Friday to celebrate the legacy.