By Vicente Vitela, Sports Editor
Valley College women’s soccer still have playoff hopes, but they need to get to work.
The Lady Monarchs soccer team is hoping to shoot their way into the playoffs with some momentum from their most recent win.
Valley College, by the numbers, may seem like a middle of the pack team with a 10-4-1 record, but two key stats to know are the fact that they rank eighth and ninth overall in shots and shots-per-game, meaning this team when given the chance, aren’t afraid to take a shot. The leading scorers on the team are Karla Lopez with seven, and Nataly Vargas with six.
“We have a little more depth than last year’s team, and this team has more grit,” said Head Coach Greg Venger, when asked about what makes this team different than last years.
The Lady Monarchs are more than capable of playing strong defense and shouldering the load, as goalie Isabel Kiledjian, who ranks tenth overall with 111 saves, has a .881 save percentage. As a whole, the defense plays aggressive and are unafraid to go after the ball, as shown by their nine cards given, leaving them with the thirteenth most overall.
“Izzy is a stud, and it helps to have a goalie like her, but Diana, Angie, Giselle, Hannah and Alma have done a great job all year,” said Coach Venger when talking about his team’s strong defensive front.
The Lady Monarchs still have time to make up some ground in a tough conference, which has Santa Monica College sitting atop with just one loss on their record. Valley’s final three games are all conference matchups, and with the playoffs fast approaching, it’s safe to say that the Monarchs control their own playoff destiny.
“I also think first-year assistant coach Melissa has had a huge impact on the team,” said Venger when asked about the team’s difference overall.
With all the games from here on out being must-win games for the Lady Monarchs, only two games separate them and first place Santa Monica, whom the Monarchs recently beat 4-3. There’s no doubt that this team can make the playoffs, but now their destiny is in their own hands, and we will see just what type of squad Venger has.
“We had a couple tough losses that dropped us out, but I think closing out the season with 13 or 14 wins may do it,” said Venger on what he thinks will help them make the playoffs.
The last game of the season is a Nov. 9 home game against Glendale College, and the season could very well come down to this final and crucial matchup.