Pirates battle to tie with Cypress

Steve Virgen

Their performance was enough for them to cheer and be proud of,

but the Orange Coast College Pirates were not content after tying,

1-1, with Orange Empire Conference defending champion Cypress Tuesday

at OCC.

“(The Pirates are) looking forward to next time,” OCC Coach

Barbara Bond said, referring to a rematch that will most likely come

about in the regional playoffs. “We had them this time. We’ll get

them next time.”

OCC ended the Chargers’ 21-game winning streak in conference,

answered a 1-0 deficit and gained confidence that the Pirates are

capable of defeating Cypress. The Chargers (15-0-1, 10-0-1 in the OEC) have an 86-conference-game unbeaten streak and they are the

top-ranked team in the nation, according to the National Soccer

Coaches Association of America/addidas Community College Poll. Coast

is ranked No. 12 in the nation.

“The first time we played them we were really nervous,” said OCC

freshman Sarah Ronquillo, who scored in the 61st minute. “We’ve been

practicing a lot harder. We knew what we were up against. When we

came out here we were all ready. We didn’t want to lose no matter

what. We just all wanted to play our hearts out like it was our very

last game.”

The Pirates apparently played their hearts out after Cypress went

up, 1-0, in the 18th minute. Charger sophomore Randi Johns, who leads

the OEC in scoring, outran defenders on a counterattack and finished

the play with a chip shot that sailed over the head of OCC goalie

Margaret Landeros. However, the Pirates (13-1-2, 9-1-1) seemed to

intensify their efforts when faced with the 1-0 deficit. The OCC

defense played up to the task. Landeros, who recorded eight saves,

led the Pirates’ defense and received support from sweeper Alicia

Santiago and defender Lauren Cassity.

“We dominated the second half,” Bond said. “In the past, we would

stay even with them in the first half, then in the second half,

Cypress would come back and beat us. But I think we came out stronger

in the second half. I was pleased with everyone’s performance. Our

goalkeeper came through. I don’t think we had a weakness. We

certainly had opportunities in the second half, unfortunately we

didn’t capitalize.”

OCC sophomore Marissa McGregor won a loose ball in front of the

Chargers’ net and she kicked the ball across the goal to set up

Ronquillo, who made good on the shot. The Pirates nearly pulled ahead

24 minutes later, when sophomore Jaycee Mahler set up a possible

scoring sequence with a pass to sophomore Fernanda Velasco. Velasco

touched a pass over to freshman Jessica Bertoni, who booted a looping

shot from about 10 yards out. But Cypress goalkeeper Jackie James

slapped at the ball, which ricocheted off the post and out of play.

Velasco almost scored again after taking a pass from Mahler. But

Velasco, who had an open look from about 15 yards out, watched as her

shot sailed over the net.

The Chargers entered the game having allowed just one goal scored

on them this season, and that was by the Pirates, who had a 1-0 lead

the last time they met Sept. 20. OCC outshot Cypress, 8-3, in the

second half, and the Chargers were charged with two yellow cards, one

for a rough takedown and the other for a delay late in the game.

“It could have gone either way,” said Cypress Coach Ray Haas,

whose team has not lost since 1995, when OCC won, 1-0. “The

officiating was maybe a little bit in question sometimes. But (OCC)

did a great job. They just played with more emotion this time, at

home, with more fan support.”