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Despite a spirited showing, and numerous goal-scoring chances in the second half, the Women’s Soccer team was held to a season opening tie Aug. 31 with the Moorpark Rangers 1-1.

Scoring opened in the first half with a perfectly placed set piece kick by Julie Watson of the Moorpark Rangers, bending the ball from near the corner flag directly into the top corner of the Lancers’ goal.

But the Moorpark lead was short lived as Lancer Vanessa Capra hustled down the center, volleying her own ball into the back of the Moorpark net in the 27th minute.

“The girls have been waiting all summer,” said Coach Randy Lilavois of the Lancers. “And I think a lot of that anticipation… And that excitement they brought out here and it shows… I was impressed, we fought hard, it’s just a shame we could not get that second goal.”

The remainder of the first half was an even match between the two sides, with few goal scoring chances.

That changed in the second half as the Lancers repeatedly attacked the Moorpark goal. Capra, top goal scorer from last year, again was central to the Lancers attack, with a fingertip save by the Moorpark keeper Tiana Fortuna just keeping out one attempt.

“We could have scored a lot more,” said the goal scorer Capra. “I think we will be great [this year], we have a strong defense, strong offense, strong centers.”

Heather French pinged the ball off the Moorpark goalposts with a lofting shot from a long-range set piece. During a Lancer corner kick the ball bounced around the Moorpark six-yard box, bouncing between Cassandra Saavedra, Amanda Papac and Capra just barely ricocheting wide of the net.

In the last 10 minutes of the second half, the game became hectic, as both teams fought for a winning goal. Both sides had excellent chances, but none of them could find the back of the net. For the Moorpark Rangers this was their second game, the first they won 3-0.

In the closing seconds both Hallie White for the Lancers and Watson for the Rangers fought hard for a ball with the scuffle continuing as the ball and players left the field. Both players were given a yellow card. Lancer Nancy Nunez also received a yellow card earlier in the game for complaining twice to the referee about different calls.

“If we can keep more possession of the ball,” said Coach Lilavois.  “We can create more chances, score more goals. If we do that, we will have a really successful team.”

 

 

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