Women's Soccer With a Dominant Defensive showing in Home Opener at Corsair Stadium

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair forward (11) Erika Bautista driving passed LA Pierce College defender on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, In Santa Monica,Calif. The Corsairs won 1-0. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs defender Ariana Maldonado (#21) fields the ball from Pierce College Brahmas midfielder Emily Diaz (#14), Tuesday, September 9, 2025. The Corsairs beat the Brahmas, 1-0 at Corsair Field, Santa Monica College, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Juliana Frame | Corsair)

Forward Jocelyn Coronado (#21) of the Pierce College Brahmas, with Brahmas defender Stephany Ramirez (#17) in tow, takes a fall after being pursued by Santa Monica College Corsairs defender Adriana Maldonado (#21), on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at Santa Monica College, in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs beat the Brahmas, 1-0 at Corsair Field. (Juliana Frame | Corsair)

Forward Jocelyn Coronado (#21) of the Pierce College Brahmas, with Brahmas defender Stephany Ramirez (#17) in tow, takes a fall after being pursued by Santa Monica College Corsairs defender Adriana Maldonado (#21), on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at Santa Monica College, in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs beat the Brahmas, 1-0 at Corsair Field. (Juliana Frame | Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs women's soccer goalkeeper Jacinda Hevesy-Rodriguez (#1) returns the ball to her teammates, pursued by forward Emily Diaz (#14) of the Pierce College Brahmas, Tuesday, September 9, 2025. The Corsairs beat the Brahmas, 1-0 at Corsair Field, Santa Monica College, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Juliana Frame | Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair defender (9) Marlene Garcia being checked by LA Pierce College Brahma (9) Bianca Lemus on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, in Santa Monica,Calif. The Corsairs won 1-0. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair defender (9) Marlene Garcia through-in on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, in Santa Monica,Calif. The Corsairs won 1-0. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

The Santa Monica College Corsairs Women’s soccer team continued their defensive dominance to beat LA Pierce 1-0 for their first home win and 3 game win streak of the season. 

Coming off of two straight wins where they didn’t allow a single goal, Santa Monica College’s (SMC) women’s soccer team entered the game with confidence in their offensive and defensive skills. This confidence was undoubtedly tested by the LA Pierce Brahma Bulls, who came into the game with a 2-1-1 record having also won their last 2 games. The Corsairs ultimately had the upper hand with fantastic defensive pressure and a lively home crowd to back the intensity.

Both teams’ goalies were their biggest strengths throughout the match. For SMC, it was sophomore goalie Jacinda Hevesy-Rodriguez, a key player for the Corsairs in recent games. For the Brahma Bulls it was Adriana Villacana, who anchored her team's defense as well. The first shot on goal came in minute 23 when LA Pierce managed to slip through the Corsair defense. This seemed to spur the Corsairs into instant offense, trading their own shot on goal around the 26th minute. 

Despite their efforts, both teams entered halftime scoreless. An opportunity emerged in the second half when an attack led by SMC forwards Erika Bautista and Giah Holman was taken too wide and defended, thus maintaining the tie. It seemed like a defensive stalemate through and through, until a foul just outside the box gave SMC a chance at a free kick, a chance they did not take for granted. For Lyric Gomez-Muniz, all it took was a line up, shot, and goal in the top left of the net to give The Corsairs the 1-0 lead. A few minutes later LA Pierce got their own chance at a free kick, but the shot was missed and the score remained the same.

Towards the end of regulation time, the Brahma Bulls had their own string of chances on offense, but SMC goalie Jacinda Hevesy-Rodriguez was able to maintain pressure on the attacking player and force the ball out of play. In the 85th minute, a header in front of the goal by LA Pierce barely missed, maintaining the current score. With that late defense, SMC was able to hold on to a narrow 1-0 victory in their women’s home opener.

The Corsair women’s next game will be at Chaffey College on Friday, Sept. 12 at 1pm.