Janelle Garcia scored two goals, and Valeria Ramirez and Sarah Garcia each recorded their first career scores as the Pirates' soccer team evened its season record with a 4-1 victory over East Los Angeles College at the Sportsplex Friday. Jennifer Orozco had an assist for Ventura (3-3) as they had 14 shots on the night, 13 on goal.
After a slow start against the Huskies, the Pirates got things going midway through the first half. Ramirez had a solid run at the goal, and Megan Henderson also had a good opportunity infront of the net, but both shots missed the target. In the 38th minute, Janelle Garcia took advantage of a misplay by the ELAC goal keeper and touched the ball into the net for a 1-0 Ventura lead. Five minutes later Orozco hit Janelle garcia on the right side, and she avoided the diving keeper to put her second goal of the night into the net. The Pirates led 2-0 at halftime.
VC kept up the pressure early in the second half. Ramirez, a freshman playing in her first game in the orange and black, scored her first goal in the 57th minute by taking a short goal kick and turning it around to a break away. She used a nifty move just inside the box to avoid the keeper, then put the ball into the net for the score.
Janelle Garcia had a pair of opportunities to earn the hat trick, but she was fouled by the goalie in the box both times. She was unable to convert her penatly kick in the 77th minute, but redshirt sophomore Sarah Garcia slotted the second PK two minutes later to the lower right corner for her first collegiate goal.
The Huskies managed a goal on a penalty kick in the 89th minute, but VC proved to be too much taking home the 4-1 victory.
Ventura returns to the pitch on Tuesday Sept. 28 at Los Angeles Pierce College for a 4:00 pm match before returning home on Saturday Oct. 1 against Fresno at 2:00 pm.