SMC Soccer Drops Another Tough Game to Another Top Opponent:

The Santa Monica College (SMC) Lady Corsairs (0-5) dropped yet another match by one goal, this time faltering 2-1 to No. 9 Ventura College (4-2) at Corsair Field on Tuesday.

Ventura’s freshman midfielder Hope Weber scored a goal and assisted on another to give the Lady Pioneers all they needed to end its two-match losing streak.

While both teams played a lackluster and scoreless first half, the Lady Pirates took control in the second half by playing a bit of smash mouth soccer and giving SMC very few scoring chances late.

“I think we strayed away from our game in the second half. We strayed away from what we were having success with in the first half,” SMC coach Aaron Benditson said. “Their physical presence in the second half was better. We’ve been giving away the same types of goals.”

After already notching two shots on goal, one corner kick, and a free kick within the first 10 minutes of the second half, Ventura took a 1-0 lead in the 56th minute when Weber bent the ball just past Lady Corsairs goalkeeper Alisa Sheldon from short range into the right upper corner of the net.

The Lady Pirates would add a second goal in the 75th minute when freshman forward Janelle Martinez ricocheted a shot of her chest from point blank range just past Sheldon on a laser pass from the left corner by Weber.

SMC would make a game of it in the 80th minute when sophomore forward Olivia Patterson fired a bullet past Ventura goalkeeper Raquel Gonzalez from inside the box on a perfect pass from sophomore midfielder Sarah Barrington.

The Lady Corsairs would have two more chances to earn the equalizer, including a corner kick in the 81st minute that landed in front of the net and a shot from about 30 yards out from Patterson in the 88th minute.

Alas, the Lady Corsairs were not able to convert on the late opportunities.

“We did compete with them physically. I don’t think there soccer was better than ours,” Benditson said. “Part of it is not taking our opportunities offensively.”

The Lady Corsairs return to the field on Sept. 23 in a road contest against Moorpark College; first kick is at 4 p.m.

Allan Hancock College visits SMC on Sept. 27 for the Lady Corsairs’ final exhibition game. SMC kicks off its regular season at home in a match against Bakersfield College on Sept. 30.