The women’s soccer team had the best record in school history last year, going a memorable 19-2-2. But the team will not forget how the league title slipped from its grasp.
“We have a lot of motivations this year and that’s one of them,” said head coach Brent Gonsalves. “We get closer ever year, but we’re always just that close. Hopefully this is the year.”
The Vaqueros lost their league title hopes last season against Moorpark when the Raiders tied the game 1-1 in the last minute of regulation, resulting in a tie City College could not afford. Ventura went on to win the title.
Gonsalves likes what he has to work with this year. The team is returning eight solid players and has a group of newcomers loaded with local talent who seem poised to go after the league title.
“I’m pleased with how the team looks this year,” he said. “Being a coach at the high school level (San Marcos High) gives me a chance to see what some of these young girls can do and we’ve got some good local talent.”
Topping the list of returning midfielders is last year’s team MVP and first team all-conference selection Tessa Binkley who is expected to make an extreme impact, said Gonsalves.
Other returning midfielders include Kira Watkins, Jennifer Pollick and Marian Casillas.
On defense, Whitney Forester, Lindsey Pierson and Naomi Wilson round out a solid returning backfield.
Former Bishop Diego star Tyler Goss returns this season to spark the offense at forward.
“Tyler (Goss) is very quick and can make a lot of things happen,” Gonsalves said. “She had two goals to beat our rival Ventura last year and we hope for more of that this season.”
New local talent this year includes freshmen Sharda Bahadur and Maggie Glenn out of San Marcos High, and goalkeeper Melody Uribe of Dos Pueblos High.
“I feel we have a lot of depth this year,” Gonsalves said. “We have a lot of local girls and the home opener will be very exciting.”
The City College women have seen their share of heartbreakers in the past. In addition to losing the league title last season, the team lost in the second round of the playoffs in an overtime shootout to L.A. Pierce and have finished second in league for the past three years straight.
The team is 3-0-1 so far this season, outscoring its opponents 8-2.
“We were 19-2-2 last season, which was almost perfect,” Gonsalves said. “We’ve had just a lot of heartbreaks and the key this season will be to eliminate our mental mistakes and play 90 minutes of soccer.”
The lady Vaqueros’ are in action Friday at Santa Monica College. Western State Conference play opens Sept. 26 at L.A. Mission and their first league home game is Sept. 30 against Oxnard.