After suffering a four-game losing streak, the Bakersfield College women’s soccer team ended the drought winning two of their next three games.
The first win ended in a shutout at home on Oct. 24 as Danielle Vargas and Guadalupe Chavez connected on both goals giving BC the 2-0 victory over the Guachos of Glendale, and most importantly some regained swagger.
Vargas, on finally ending the skid, said, “It feels good. I feel like we’re working better as a team. We’re such a young team that we honestly didn’t know it was coming for us and now and we’re more prepared for what’s to come.”
That swagger and preparation fed off the next game as visiting West LA came into town eying their first conference win of the season.
Despite an early goal from West LA in the 20th minute from Catherine Sanchez, Bakersfield flipped the switch offensively allowing zero goals thereafter.
Forward Victoria Pyle, who has been held scoreless for the past six games, ended her skid scoring in the 35th minute off a deflection and again in the 43rd (assisted by Chavez) giving the Renegades a 2-1 lead heading into the break.
For Chavez, a freshman from McFarland, it has been a chance for her to make the most of her minutes that have increased tremendously the past couple of games.
“She [Chavez] has been mostly in the back (defender), and the last game (vs. Glendale) was the first time we tried that and she was the one that set up both goals… So let’s keep trying that again, and she was really dangerous again today,” Coach Scott Dameron said.
It’s a breakout moment for Chavez.
“It feels good that I’ve been getting the assists, because those (assists) lead to goals,” Chavez mentioned on her performance.
In the second half, the Renegades’ goals became more effortless.
Danielle Vargas added the team’s third goal eight minutes into the second period extending BC’s lead to 3-1.
Five minutes later, the frenzy continued as midfielder Savannah Melendez joined in to add to the lead making it 4-1 with still about 30 minutes left to play.
Although Bakersfield had several shot attempts on goal that didn’t cross the goal-line, Dameron cleared his bench and gave backup forward Teresa Martin the opportunity to capitalize in the 88th minute – which she did – giving BC the 5-1 lead and the victory over West LA.
After winning two at home, the Renegades traveled to Antelope Valley with their second date against the Marauders (first meeting ending in a 1-1 draw) of the conference season on Halloween night.
Pyle sent out a treat in the 10th minute adding some more sugar to her offensive play again as BC led 1-0.
However, the Marauders’ Shandra Pereira and Cleste Flores added goals to give Antelope Valley a 2-1 win over the Renegades.
Before another meeting with Canyons, Bakersfield (7-6-3 overall, 3-5-2 conference) sits tied with Antelope Valley for fifth in the WSC-South with Antelope Valley owning the tiebreaker as things heat up in the final stage of conference play.