Corsairs hand Vaqueros first loss of year, 1-0

Tyler Fields scored in the 45th minute on Friday night and Santa Monica made it stand up for a 1-0 women's soccer victory over SBCC at La Playa Stadium.

It was the first loss of the year for the Vaqueros (5-1-1), who are ranked No. 8 in the country by the National Soccer Coaches Assoc. of America. It was also the first loss in 23 games (17-1-5) for Santa Barbara and the first home defeat in 16 games (13-1-2).

"We just couldn't finish tonight and that's not like us," said 11th-year head coach John Sisterson. "Even the professional teams have off-days and this was definitely one for us."

Fields took a free kick from Josseline Espinoza in the last minute of the first half and scored after a scramble in front of the net. The Corsairs improved to 4-2-1.

The teams were even on shots (7-7) but Santa Monica tried four corner kicks and the Vaqueros had none.

"We put in a couple of freshman to start the second half and moved Andrea Skjold up to the front to try to create a little more," Sisterson said. "Stephanie Rodriguez came in at right back and gave 100 percent, she was very good. And Kaitlyn Saperstein is always working very hard.

"It was just one of those nights that you do get sometimes in sports."

After being outshot 6-3 in the first half, the Vaqueros enjoyed a 4-1 advantage in the second half with two shots on goal. SBCC goalie Alex Camarillo made a one-hand save after mishandling a ball in the 61st minute.

Skjold had a quick scoring chance in the 68th minute, taking a cross from Josefine Von Der Burg and facing the goalie 1-on-1 from 17 yards out. Brittany Smith, the Corsairs' goalie, had come out to challenge Skjold and made the save about two yards away from her.

"We put pressure on them in the second half but our chances were limited," said Sisterson. "It was a case of who could get the run of the green. It was an off-night for us. We'll regroup and it's still a long way to go."

SBCC completes a five-game homestand on Tuesday when San Bernardino Valley visits for a 1 p.m. game.