Vaqueros win three to go 4-0 in their Halloween Invitational

It was all treats for SBCC on Saturday as the No. 2-ranked Vaqueros won three games to complete a 4-0 run in their Halloween Invitational at Santa Barbara High.

SBCC, ranked No. 2 in the state, finishes the regular season with a 26-4 record. The Vaqueros knocked off No. 7 West Valley 14-4 for the second time this year, then rallied to beat UCSB's Club Team 10-7 and upended No. 8 Cerritos 8-5 in the afternoon.

Taylor Brooks scored 15 goals on the day and took over the California state lead with 114 goals.

 No. 2 SBCC 14, No. 7 West Valley 4: Brooks scored six times and recorded three steals and three drawn ejections to lead the Vaqueros in their 8 a.m. battle. SBCC led 6-1 at the half and 9-1 after three quarters.
 The Vaqueros improved to 24-4 and the Vikings are 19-6.
 Brooks eclipsed the 100-goal mark for the season and became the top scorer in California.
 Annie Ackert added three goals and four steals while Hana Wigzell had three steals and three drawn ejections.

 No. 2 SBCC 10, UCSB Club Team 7: UCSB jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one quarter, then the Vaqueros reeled off seven straight goals.
 Brooks scored six goals for the third straight game. Wigzell scored twice and made four steals while Ackert had two goals and three steals. Brooks scored on a pass from Allison Kay for a 7-3 lead at 5:46 of the third, only to see the Gauchos score three in a row and cut the deficit to one, 7-6.
 SBCC responded with three straight goals (2 by Brooks, 1 by Wigzell) to push the lead up to 10-6.
 Zoe Johnson played the first half in goal and made six saves. She also notched four steals and two assists while giving up just three goals and none in the second quarter as the Vaqueros won the period 6-0 to take a 6-3 halftime lead.

 No. 2 SBCC 8, No. 8 Cerritos 5: Brooks led the way again with a hat trick and four steals. Brooks has 114 goals on the year (3.8 per game) and moved past Rocio Fesembeck into second on the Vaqueros' all-time single-season list, just nine behind the No. 1 scorer Emma Fraser.
 Wigzell added two goals for the Vaqueros, who led 5-1 at the half. They stretched it to 7-1 on third-quarter scores by Brooks (on a 6-on-5) and Kay with Brooks providing the assist. Johnson played the first two quarters and gave up just one goal while improving to 22-4.

"It was a great day for our program," said coach Chuckie Roth. "We finished the season better than we started. Each member has been able to improve their own abilities and we have come closer together as a team. I thought Zoe Johnson had a great game in goal and all the field players contributed.

"I was particularly impressed with Lanie Azevedo's improvement. Taylor Brooks had a great weekend as well and Annie Ackert continues to show great signs of leadership."

The Vaqueros will be seeking their sixth straight WSC title on Friday and Saturday in the WSC Tournament at L.A. Valley. They're seeded No. 1 and will open in the semifinals vs. the Cuesta-Ventura winner on Friday at 2:45 p.m.


Annie Ackert, a freshman attacker from Santa Ynez High, collected six goals and
eight steals in three wins on Saturday. Ackert is the No. 9 scorer in the state
with 68 goals. (Photo by Ted Heidke)