The Santa Barbara City College Women’s Soccer team dropped their home matchup against Chaffey on Tuesday, 2-1, despite limiting the visitors’ chances for most of the game. Goals from a long-distance free kick and a sequence following a late corner kick downed the Vaqueros.
“We grow, we get better, and we hope that we fix the mistakes that were made,” Head Coach Alex Zermeno said positively after the game.
The first half lacked major chances, but the Vaqueros had the better opportunities. In the 25th minute, Malia Misawa tried her luck on a 35-yard free kick that skimmed just off the top corner of the post. Shortly after, Morgan Retterer—who stood out for the second game in a row—dribbled about 50 yards down the left wing before getting a good shot off, which forced an equally good save.
“She’s a top player in the conference—a top player in the state,” Zermeno said of Retterer. “She’s also battling an illness right now, so for her to come out and play 90 minutes, kudos to her.”
Five minutes after halftime, Santa Barbara broke the deadlock with a beautifully worked team goal. Leilani Sanchez passed to Olivia Del Castillo about 40 yards from goal, then passed back to Sanchez who made a great run from left to right near the top of the box. Sanchez drove a ball towards the six-yard box, where Fiona Bulmer found the back of the net for her first Vaquero goal.
“Shoutout to Fiona Bulmer,” Zermeno said. “First goal—a freshman scoring their first is always fun.”
Soon after, Chaffey naturally became more attack-minded, but the Vaqueros held for a bit. Misawa threw her body in front of a close-range shot to preserve the score. In the 70th minute, substitute goalkeeper Samantha Maytanes made a solid save from a corner.
Chaffey won a free kick from more than 40 yards out a few minutes later. America Torres placed it perfectly in the top corner and down off the crossbar, tying the game, with nothing Maytanes could do.
As the clock ticked down, it seemed like teams were headed for a deserved draw. However, Chaffey won a corner kick with less than two minutes left. The first ball was half-cleared, but the second ball in found Torres again for a much easier finish at the back post to win the game.
“They gave their best player the chance to make a play,” Zermeno said. “You have to tip your cap and give them credit.”
This was clearly a game between two quality SoCal teams. Despite the result, the Vaqueros will be encouraged by the performance and hope that the next game of similar quality will end in their favor.
Santa Barbara looks ahead to the Adidas Community College Showcase hosted by Ventura College on Thursday and Saturday, beginning against Cypress on Thursday at 6 p.m.