Vaqueros blank Pierce 2-0 in battle for first

Kaitlyn Crooker scored in her fourth straight game on a cloudy Halloween day and SBCC went on to blank L.A. Pierce 2-0 in a women's soccer first-place showdown at La Playa Stadium.

The Vaqueros (10-3-4, 6-0-3) have won a season-high four straight games and remained unbeaten in the WSC North and at home (6-0). SBCC has 21 points and Pierce, which suffered its first conference loss, has 17. The Brahmas have played one less game. Ventura, which has played two less games, is third with 15 points and a 4-0-3 record.

SBCC has won 10 or more games for the last nine seasons. Pierce fell to 9-3-5 and 5-1-3.

Crooker scored in the 6th minute after Michelle Day dribbled up the left side and fed her a cross. Crooker's shot from 10 yards out deflected off a defender and into the net. Crooker has six goals in the last four games and 14 for the season in 15 games.

It was the sixth game-winner of the year by Crooker.

"Michelle gave me a nice cross and I hit with my left foot," said Crooker of her early goal. "We had really good intensity in the first half. We were definitely the better team out here today."

The Vaqueros outshot the Brahmas 10-2 in the first half and 23-5 for the game. Santa Barbara dominated the possession and Pierce didn't get a shot off until the 28th minute. SBCC, which enjoyed an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal, is unbeaten in its last 11 games (8-0-3).

Madison Shaw, a sophomore from Salt Lake City, scored her first goal of the year in the 72nd minute. A Pierce defender kicked a high ball back to the keeper near the goal line. Shaw and Laura Romero applied the pressure and the goalie fumbled the ball to Shaw, who booted it in.

"I thought we were always the better team, we were going forward the entire game," said coach John Sisterson. "It was important to get that early goal and I had my fingers crossed that we'd get a second one in the first half. They were dumping long balls in for their No. 11 (Paige Wolny) who has 16 goals and that was a little nerve-wracking.

"But we looked comfortable and once we got that second one, it was game over."

SBCC will play three of its last four at home, starting with Moorpark on Tuesday at 2 p.m.