Winless in its first four games, Moorpark College (0-4-0) was soundly defeated 5-0 by Oxnard College (3-1-1) at home on Tuesday afternoon at the Raiders Pitch.

Moorpark started strong and matched the Condors for possession in the first half.  However, the momentum shifted when Cristian Guzman broke free and beat the Raiders’ goalkeeper, Daniel Moreno, on a low shot from close range in the eighth minute.

“We played satisfactory for the first 20-25 minutes and then we struggled,” Moorpark’s Head Coach Sean Roche said. “The opposition played well and we weren’t able to cope with their agility.”

Oxnard struck again on the stroke of halftime and doubled the score 2-0 on a shot by Jerry Orozco from pointblank range.

After halftime, the Condors fitness and superior ball skills became evident and Moorpark never came close. Jorge Jimenez started off the second half by scoring from close range to make it 3-0 in the 57 minute.

An accurate lob by Gustavo Navarro over Moreno’s head left him stranded in the 72nd minute, adding a fourth goal. Navarro’s second goal put the icing on the cake near the end for an easy 5-0 Western State Conference win for Oxnard.

“In the first half we did a good job,” said Raiders forward Felipe Luz, 21, an international student from Brazil. “Then in the second half everyone was tired. But we [hope to] keep improving for the next game.”

The ongoing Spanish chatter between the Oxnard players on the field spoke volumes about their cohesiveness as a team and should be a useful lesson for the Raiders to follow.

Moreno had a good game and made seven stops in a lost cause for the Raiders. His best save came when he hurled his body to stop a bullet from an Oxnard attacker at close range late in game.

“This is the best team we are playing right now,” said Raider left winger Roy Galdamez, 20, an international student from El Salvador, Central America. “We didn’t make it but for the first game it was really good.”

With every game, the Raiders confidence and conditioning continues to grow but the team still has a long road to travel before it can match the level of talent and fitness required to succeed in this division of men’s soccer.

“We have a bye this Friday, so we have a week to work,” Roche concluded. “Then we’ll come out and do a little bit better.”

The Raiders travel to Santa Monica on Tuesday, Sept. 22 to battle with the conference-leading Corsairs (4-0-1). Kickoff time is at 1 p.m.