It came down to a simple but challenging formula, win for the conference title. The Ventura College women's soccer team found that challenge to be too great, falling at Santa Barbara City College 3-0 Tuesday night, giving the Vaqueros their first ever outright conference crown.
Both teams had chances early, SBCC rattling the crossbar in the fourth minute, and the Pirates on a quick counter in the seventh minute. VC (10-4-5, 6-1-4) had another good chance in the 13th minute, but Abigail Littleton could not get to a crossing shot before the Vaquero defense cleared the play. Melissa Cardenas missed a shot wide from 18 yards out six minutes later.
The Vaqueros broke through with a goal in the 23rd minute to take a 1-0 lead, putting the pressure for the win suqrely on the shoulders of the Pirates. VC seemingly responded when Cardenas found the back of the net four minutes later, but she was flagged for an offsides call. THe goal was disallowed, and Pirates kept up the fight down a goal.
Santa Barbara quicly added another score in the 30th minute, adding to the Ventura disappointment, but they kept up the good fight. The game went into intermission with the 2-0 score.
In the 59th minute, Delanie Gavid hit the crossbar on a corner kick, but Ventura, needing three goals in the half to win the game and the title, could not muster enough offense. The Vaqueros added the clincher in the 86th minute for the final 3-0 result.
The Pirates, still playing for second place in the conference, close the regular season at home on Friday Nov. 14 against Allan Hancock College. Kick-off is slated for 6:00 pm at the VC Sportsplex.