Valley College Soccer on a roll as it heads into its first conference play against Citrus.

By: Alejandro Garcia, Staff Writer

Valley midfielder Jennifer Trejo applying the pressure to regain possession from Cuesta player, Hailey Westscottt. (Alejandro Garcia for the Valley Star)

The Valley College soccer team played its final pre-season contest Tuesday and defeated East Los Angeles College 3-2. 

The home win gave the Monarchs a 5-3 mark heading into conference play against Citrus on Friday. It’s the team’s fourth straight win of the season. Hazel Caro’s goal in the 53rd minute lifted the Monarchs to the win. 

Valley’s Tarryn Macias opened the scoresheet less than three minutes into the game, and Haley Mallas added a second goal around the four-minute mark to put the Monarchs up 2-0. The Huskies answered back with two-straight goals from Jacky Gallardo and Jennifer Gallardo to knot the game at 2. Both teams remained scoreless until Caro broke the tie off a penalty kick. 

Last week, the Monarchs scored a 3-1 home victory against the Cuesta Cougars. The goals came from Amanda Rumack, Haley Mallas and Tarryn Macias. 

Rumack proved to be in the right place at the right time as she took a ball off a rebound and put it in the back of the net less than three minutes into the game. Mallas added to the Monarch lead after the midfielder/forward blew past the defense and scored at the 12:36 mark. The Monarchs were up 2-0. 

The final goal for the home team came off the led Macias who collected a ball in front of the goalie and punched it in at the 77th minute, giving the Monarchs a commanding 3-0 lead with around 13 minutes remaining in the game. 

The Monarchs were able to hold onto a scoreless game until minute 84. An unwanted penalty kick was awarded to Cuesta by Valley goalkeeper Leslie Sanchez, who came on in the second half to replace fellow keeper Nina Diaz.

Valley goalkeeper Nina Diaz kicking off the attack from the box. (Alejandro Garcia for the Valley Star)

Sanchez faced three of the four total shots in the game, making two saves and conceding the one goal by Cuesta forward Derby Coykendall at 84:47 mark, making the final score 3-1 and ruining a clean sheet. 

The Monarchs feature 12 new players, with many of them playing college soccer for the first time. 

“I think overall it's a whole different level,” said freshman midfielder Jennifer Trejo. “I mean its stronger, faster pace than I was used to and I had to get used to the tempo again.”

The Monarchs have posted a 5-1 record after losing the first two games of the season, which saw them allow four goals while scoring none. Since then, the Monarchs have outscored their opponents 16-7, and coach Jonathan Horst likes what he sees. 

“Score more goals, more clean sheets, keeping the opponent to zero goals is a big priority of ours in every game,” Horst said. 

Valley will play East Los Angeles at home Tuesday for its last non-conference game at home with a start time of 4 p.m.  

Isabel Sol contributed to the story.

Valley forward Hazel Caro dribbling through the Cuesta defense during the second half. (Isabel Sol for the Valley Star)