Season Preview: Vaqueros are focused on finishing

The SBCC women's soccer team hasn't won a game but they've been right there in every match. They're 0-2-1 and have either led or been tied at halftime of all three contests.

Their competitive tenacity at the start of games often comes back to bite them in the second half.

"It's all about game management," said coach John Sisterson. "So you go all-out at the beginning and you've got to then learn; somebody's got to teach them to manage the game. That's something we've been working on."

According to Sisterson, the team has identified controlled aggression, set pieces and -- most importantly -- closing out matches as areas of importance.

A balanced Vaquero unit (14 freshmen, 13 sophomores) hopes to improve on a 13-6-2 overall record from a year ago and a third-place finish in the WSC North at 8-2-2 behind L.A. Pierce (9-1-2) and Ventura (9-2-1).

SBCC graduated 2013 WSC Player of the Year Brandie Harris, who set a school record with 30 goals and tied the single-season scoring mark with 64 points. Nevertheless, Sisterson, who's entering his 10th year at the helm of the women's program and eighth for the men, is confident in many of his rising stars, believing this year's team will be particularly strong on defense and in goal.

Returners Mackenzie Rios (Santa Barbara High) and Madison Shaw (Salt Lake City) anchor the defensive effort, while freshmen Emily Erwin (Dos Pueblos High) and Lena Gustafsson (Soquel High) have impressed in their collegiate debuts. Gustafsson assisted on Jackie Hollmer's 27th-minute goal against Chaffey on Sept. 5.

Newcomer Karin Nordin (Sweden) has played all 270 minutes in goal and made seven saves. Kasey Jensen (Foothill High) could also see some time between the pipes.

Sisterson is also excited about midfielders Tavara Zachert-Johnson and Alex Abbott, who scored SBCC's first goal of the season in the 19th minute against East L.A. on a left cross from Aimee Ryan (Amador Valley High). Abbott played on the Vaquero soccer squad a few years ago and was a pitcher/first baseman on the softball team in the Spring.

Additionally, Kaitlyn Crooker (Alameda High), a transfer from Division I Grand Canyon University, is slated to play in upcoming contests. Forwards of note include speedy freshmen Ryan, Michelle Day (Washington) and Sandy Grimaldo (Mammoth Lakes High), who scored 13 goals for the 2012 team.

Unlike the men's team — which consists of 27 international players on a 30-man roster — the women's depth is made up of 15 native Californians and five international athletes, four of whom are from Sweden.

"Overall, we've got some very good girls," Sisterson said. "The squad on the whole is a good squad."

Sisterson is 114-41-33 through nine seasons with the women's team. He was named WSC North Coach of the Year in 2011 after leading the women to an 11-1 record and a league title. It was a banner year for Sisterson, who also picked up a Coach of the Year selection, a conference crown and a trip to the State Final Four on the men's side.

 He has led the women to four straight Southern California Regional appearances, including seven in the last eight years, and has guided them to a national ranking as high as No. 5 in both 2008 and 2011.

His combined overall record for both programs is 210-79-52 (through 2013).

For Sisterson, a successful 2014 campaign will be one of hard work both on and off the field and taking things one game at a time.

"First and foremost, [my goal is] that the ladies give a good account of themselves in every game," Sisterson said. "For me [to be satisfied], we stay injury free, we give a good account of ourselves and they're going to their classes and passing all their classes. And if they're doing that, I would like to think we're winning games."

The Vaqueros travel to Taft for a 1 p.m. game on Tuesday.