The Moorpark College Soccer teams ferocious defensive display was not enough to stifle a disconcerting defeat of 0-2 when they took the pitch on Oct. 9 against the Oxnard College Condors. 

It was a hard pressed first half and Moorpark College struggled to find their rhythm.  Oxnard maintained a majority of the possession and was pressuring the Raiders in their final third. The Raiders’ defense was strong; they fought hard to clear their lines, and to close down the opponents. However, a clean sheet wasn’t in the cards for the Raiders, and in the 17th minute a defensive error from defender Edgar Hernandez, and goal keeper Gerardo Velasquez, allowed for the first goal.

The first half continued into the second with more of the same from both teams.  The score remained 0-1 and the Raiders failed to create chances to equalize.  The final goal of the game came from a free kick taken by Condors’ forward Travis Bowen with nine minutes left to play. It curved over the wall and fell just slightly towards the far post before beating Velasquez and hitting the back of the net.  It was a precisely taken strike, and the general consensus is that the keeper was helpless to stop it.    

“The second goal was a cracking a goal, over the wall and there is nothing you can do,” said Head Coach Sean Roche. 

 This latest defeat brings the Raiders’ record to 1-7-4. They play Santa Monica City College away on Tuesday Oct. 16.  Their next home game is on Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. against Citrus College.