Corsairs Outshine Monarchs In 4-2 Win

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair Amaya Marzola (24) fights for the ball with Valley Community College Monarch Jennifer Trejo (6) during the game on Friday, September 25, 2026, Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsair defeated the Monarchs 4-2. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair Lidia Crespin (22) drives the ball during the game with Valley Community College Monarchs on Friday, September 25, 2026, Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsair defeated the Monarchs 4-2. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair Ashton St. Claire (10) advances the ball down the pitch during the game with Valley Community College Monarchs on Friday, September 25, 2026, Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsair defeated the Monarchs 4-2. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair Alexa Burr (6) high-fiving teammates during player introductions prior to the game with Valley Community College Monarchs on Friday, September 25, 2026, in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsair defeated the Monarchs 4-2. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair Amaya Marzola (24) celebrates with team after scoring a goal during the game with Valley Community College Monarchs on Friday, September 25, 2026, in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsair defeated the Monarchs 4-2. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair Mikayla Mata (18) header for a goal during the game with Valley Community College Monarchs on Friday, September 25, 2026, in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsair defeated the Monarchs 4-2. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

The Santa Monica College Corsairs won their game Friday, Sept. 25 against the Los Angeles Valley College Monarchs. After a three-game losing streak, the Corsairs controlled the field and created multiple scoring opportunities against the Monarchs. The Monarchs applied pressure on the ball, while the Corsairs maintained possession and kept the ball away from their own goal. 

The first goal was scored by the Corsairs in the 33rd minute by forward Amaya Marzola. “Find your moment and take a breath,” she said after the game when describing her goal.  

Before halftime, the Monarchs took a shot from just past center field, that went toward the middle of the net. Though the initial shot was successfully blocked by SMC’s goalkeeper Becerra, the Monarchs scored on the rebound, tying the score at 1-1.

At the start of the second half, the Monarchs scored within the opening minute,  taking the ball down the field through an open gap in the SMC defense to take a 2-1 lead.

The Corsairs tied the game after center midfielder Lidia Crespin took possession of the ball and passed it to defender Mikayla Mata, who shot the ball into the Monarchs goal, making the game at 2-2.

Corsairs continued to maintain possession, limiting the Monarchs' opportunities to advance the ball.

With minutes remaining in the game,  the Monarchs committed a foul against the Corsairs, giving SMC a free kick.. From the far right corner, SMC’s defender Yaretzi Hernandez passed the ball to Ashton St. Claire, who shot the ball past the Monarch’s goalkeeper, giving the Corsairs a 3-2 lead. St. Claire credited her teammates with helping the team recover from its previous losses. 

 “It was hard, you know, coming back from losing,” St. Claire said. “I say we’re doing well and we just gotta keep it up.” 

The Monarchs then committed a foul on Hernandez, resulting in a penalty kick for the Corsairs. Center Midfielder Genesis Diaz took the penalty kick and scored, giving the Corsairs a two point lead and putting the final score at 4-2. 

SMC earned its second win of the season, and head coach Aaron Bendiston discussed the importance of the win for his team. 

 “We’ve been having a lot of mixed emotions and recently had to work a lot on our team identity,” Bendiston said. “ To come back from a loss and score multiple goals in a game, there's a lot of positives.”

They will play the Glendale Community College Vaqueros on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 4 p.m. in Glendale.