After 120 minutes of hard fought scoreless soccer and nine penalty kicks between Moorpark and Ventura in the first round of the 3C2A Southern California Regional Playoffs, it came down to Desire. With the season on the line and the teams tied 4-4 in penalties, Pirate freshman Desire Lopez calmly slotted her final strike inside the left post and into the net to push VC into the next round of the post-season. Ventura goalie Sibella Donnelly had three saves in 120 minutes of play to help send the game to penalties.
Despite the 0-0 result, the match will go down as an instant classic. The rivals both left everything on the field in one of the best ever Ventura-Moorpark match-ups.
The battle started in a defensive oriented first half. There were mini battles all over the field and the team went to intermission with the scoreless tie.
The Raiders, seeded No. 19 in the draw, began to press more aggressively in the second half, backing the No. 14-seed Pirates deep into their own end on occasions. Both teams had a pair of quality chances to score, but neither could finish the goal.
Overtime heightened the anxiety as every play became magnified with each passing minute. The Pirates missed a golden opportunity when Andrea Ibarra's penalty kick late in the extra period glanced an inch too far outside off the left post, rebounding across the net just inches outside the goal line. Meanwhile, Moorpark scored what appeared to be the game winner in th 120th minute, but the goal was disallowed due to an offsides violation.
After two hours of hard-fought play, the draw was secured and the game moved to penalty kicks to decide who would advance to the next round of the playoffs.
Moorpark kicked first and was able to score on each of their first three chances. Meanwhile, the Pirates responded in kind as Yahaira Ramirez, Emily Ramirez and Ibarra all converted their penalty kicks to keep the contest even. The raiders finally blinked on the fourth try, sending their shot wide left to open the door for VC. Daisy Vaca made the most of her opportunity, finding the back of the net to put Ventura ahead 4-3 headed to the final round of PK's.
Donnelly, who had a superior night in goal, nearly ended the contest early as she got a hand of MC's final try, but could not prevent it from going inside the post as the Raiders tied things up at 4-4. Then, Lopez came walking down the field calmly, placed the ball on the penalty spot. With ice water running in her veins, Lopez smoothly hit the right-footed drive to the left side of the goal, easily flying past the goalie and inside the post for the triumph.
Ventura ended the game with 13 shots, seven on goal and the Raiders hit seven shots, three on target.
The Pirates move ahead in the playoffs as they will now travel to No. 3 Long Beach on Saturday Nov. 18. Game time will be announced.
WSoc⚽️: @MC_Raiders pulls even 4-4 on their final PK before Desire Lopez slots in the final shot at @VCpiratesoccer advances in the playoffs! pic.twitter.com/v33dyLpZT6
— VCPirateAthletics (@VCAthletics) November 17, 2023