Moorpark College’s women’s soccer team earned its second consecutive league victory and first home victory over Cuesta College 6-1 on Friday, Oct. 21.
The Lady Raiders sported pink tops for the first half of the match in honor of breast cancer awareness, which has been celebrated all throughout the month of October.
Despite the daunting final score, MC conceded first in the affair. Lackadaisical defending led to an easy Cougar goal as a long throw-in just outside the Raider penalty box found a free Cuesta forward who easily slotted home the game’s first goal.
MC response was instantaneous; from the ensuing kickoff they got the ball out wide to #15 Taylor Hennings. Hennings beat a defender on the line and whipped in a cross, which was flicked onto the back post by No. 21 Marylin Alvarez before finally being finished by No. 11 Lynnae Davis.
The score ignited the Raider attack as they applied constant pressure in search of a second goal.
Their second goal came just minutes after their first off of a quick counter attack. Sprinting down the line Davis (No.11) passed the ball into the Cougar penalty box where she found the feet of Alvarez (No.21). Alvarez left one on one with the goalkeeper calmly dispatched a firm shot into the lower right corner.
The half ended 2-1 in favor of MC but head coach Eric Pivat demanded more from his team as he asked his players to press even harder in the second half and put the game away.
The team took his message to heart as they stepped back on to the field wearing their traditional black tops.
Cuesta couldn’t handle the Raider pressure as they gave up four second half goals.
The first, a tap-in by Lynnae Davis (No.11) recipient of a low cross from No. 4 Karina Tamayo.
The second, a spectacular shot by No. 20 Ryann Appell form well outside the eighteen-yard box which floated into the upper left corner of the goal.
The final two were both one on ones, which left Cuesta’s goalie helpless. Karina Tamayo (No.4) and substitute No.18 Samantha Corbin were the scores of those goals.
All-in-all it turned out be an easy victory for the Lady Raiders as they capitalized on the chances they created.
Pivat was pleased with his team’s performance, particularly their finishing.
“Some girls were sharper than others,” Pivat said. “We were a notch above them in front of goal.”
The victory brings the MC’s league record 2-3-1 (3-5-5 overall). They travel to cross-town rivals Ventura on Tuesday, Oct. 25. the game starts at 4 p.m.
