The Santa Barbara City College women’s soccer team dropped its first game of the season in Friday nights 1-0 loss against the Santa Monica College Corsairs at La Playa Stadium.

Scoring opportunities were scarce for the Vaqueros during Friday’s game. City College only managed four shots on the goal and had no corner kicks the entire game.     

“It’s not like us,” said head coach John Sisterson. “We’ll regroup on Monday and work at it during the week.”

For most of the first half, the game was pretty evenly matched with neither team gaining ground. The taller Vaqueros did win the battle in the air taking most of the headers. Both teams had moments of very good ball handling and making their opponents miss takeaways.

This was the first game this season City College has been shut out. The Vaqueros have scored 10 goals this year so far. They have only allowed three goals all season, tonight’s goal included.

“The past games we’ve had more opportunities to score” said freshman midfielder Stephanie Rodriquez (No.4). “We were defending most of the game”

The only goal of the night came in the 45th minute by Tyler Fields (No. 4) of Santa Monica College. Fields managed to get the ball past four City College defenders and freshman goalie Alex Camarillo (No. 0).

In the second half the Vaqueros turned up the heat and went on the attack keeping the ball in Corsair territory. Despite keeping the ball on Santa Monica’s side of the field, the defense proved to be too much to overcome.   

“We put them in to pressure in the second half,” Sisterson said. “But the chances were limited.”

Despite the lack of scoring opportunities, Coach Sisterson was very happy with how freshmen midfielders Kaitlyn Saperstein (No. 5) and Stephanie Rodriguez (No. 4) played during the game.

“I thought young Stephanie Rodriquez came in at right back and gave 100 percent, I thought she was very good tonight,” said Sisterson. “Kaitlyn Saperstein is always working very hard as well.”

The game did turn more aggressive during the second half when City College players started to make progress into Santa Monica territory. In the 54th minute the stands erupted in disapproval to a no call by the referees when  Rodriguez  was shoved by a Santa Monica player during a dead ball, after she made a sliding takeaway.

City College drops their record to 5-1-1 and Santa Monica College improves to 4-2-1. Neither team has started conference play yet.

The Vaqueros next game will be against the San Bernardino Valley College Wolverines at 1. pm. Tuesday, Sept. 29 at La Playa Stadium.