Bakersfield College women’s soccer lost against San Bernardino Valley College 3-1 in the first round of the playoffs Nov. 21.
The Renegades held the Foothill Conference champions scoreless during the first half and later succumbed to the insisting attack of the Wolverines.
BC’s midfield and defense did a good job holding the Wolverines’ attack, a scoring machine that produced 90 goals during the regular season, almost double the 46 goals scored by the Renegades.
Coach Scott Dameron explained that their opponent’s key players were in the midfield; therefore, he started with a 3-5-2 formation trying to hold the Wolverines’ midfield.
In the 40th minute of the first half, midfielder Morgan Hagen had BC’s best chance to score, and her shot hit the net on the outside, creating a visual effect that had some of BC’s fans celebrating.
“We had most of the chances in the first half; we just needed to put one of those away,” said Dameron.
For the second half, San Bernardino put pressure on the Renegades’ goal. In the third minute, BC’s goalkeeper Taryn Wilson had a great save after a ball headed from a free kick.
On the next play, after another free kick, San Bernardino Valley midfielder Sylvia Fuentes scored with a shot that hit the post and went in.
“We came out flat after the goal.They were playing harder than us,” Dameron said.
According to Dameron, after the first goal it was hard to play because the Wolverines were just trying to defend and not worry about creating.
In the 20th minute when BC was trying to add to the attack, Wolverines’ forward Evelyn Calderon received a bouncing ball and tipped it over BC’s goalkeeper to put the home side ahead 2-0.
On the next play, while the Wolverines were still celebrating the goal, BC’s Terryn Soelberg took advantage of confusion between goalkeeper Maria Magana and a defender and scored for BC.
Dameron said that they needed to take chances and try to tie the game sending more players to the attack.
However, five minutes later Wolverines’ midfielder Angelina King ended the Renegades’ hope when she scored after a corner kick making the score 3-1.
In the last 20 minutes, BC tried to make a comeback, but the Wolverines still kept the pressure on. BC’s goalkeeper was instrumental in keeping the Renegades in the game with great saves until the third goal.
“They [the players] gave themselves a chance to win the game. I was proud of how hard they worked,” Dameron said. “It was unfortunate to lose the game.”
The Renegades concluded their season with an overall record of 11-8-2 and 9-3-2, placing third in the Western State Conference southern region.