Soccer team scores first win

The women’s soccer team is facing a number of injuries but had enough to squeak by visiting West L.A. College.

By Jabes Pascual, Staff Writer

Monarchs #19 Liz Llamas gets back on defense to stop Cougars #13 Shirley Ochoa. (Jack Vermanyan | Valley Star)

The Valley College women’s soccer team tightened up its defense and recorded their first win of the season against West LA. The Monarchs’ 1-0 victory against the Cougars at home Tuesday improved the team’s record to 1-4.

After allowing nine goals in their first soccer match of the season against College of the Canyons, Valley’s defense only allowed West LA five shots on goal, which were all turned back by goalie Sarah Paul. The Monarchs took the field with 13 players as the team had a number of players sitting out due to injuries.

“Defensively, I think we are just a bit tired,” said assistant coach Stacey Rodwell. “And because of that, we made some decisions that aren’t normally made, but, overall, I think we deserve something out of the game.”

The defensive contest and the game was sealed when Valley defender Andrea Martin placed the ball in the top corner of the net on a free kick from 28-yards out. She scored the contest’s only goal a few minutes before the end of the first half.

“When I am going to kick it, I just stare at the ball,” said Martin. “I have an idea, obviously, where I am going to kick it, but I just look at the ball and place it.”

The Monarchs have relied heavily on the defense in the last four contests. They have allowed seven goals, while scoring only three. However, Head Coach Melissa Fernandez said she has confidence in her team’s offense.

“It’s just a matter of taking the pressure off,” Fernandez said. “I know we can do it because I have seen it in practice.”

Before the end of the match, the Monarchs had the chance to increase the lead by 2 but Martin missed a penalty that went wide left. After the match, she described the penalty miss. “Usually I have a set idea of where I’m going, but this time I didn’t.”

The Monarchs will be looking to ride the momentum of the team’s first win as they visit Bakersfield College Friday for a 4 p.m. contest.

“Hopefully moving forward we have the same energy and better quality,” Martin said.