Crush Women Beat Santa Barbara City 3-1 for Third Win in a Row

The Clovis Crush Women's Soccer team continued its great start to the 2018-19 season with its third win in a row and possibly its most significant win to date, a 3-1 home victory over Santa Barbara City College on Friday afternoon. Santa Barbara is coming off of a 2017 CCCAA State Runner-Up finish, and with the Crush losing 1-0 on the road in their first meeting last season, the win shows the growth of the program in its 3rd year.

Sophomore Mia Castillo opened the scoring in the 16th minute with her fourth goal of the year off an assist from freshman Ariana Quintero. After winning the ball in her own half, Castillo played a first time pass to Quintero and made a 60 yard run without the ball, getting it back right inside the box and placing her shot low to her left just past the goalkeeper. Santa Barbara would respond by tying the game up at 1-1 in the 26th minute via a penalty kick, but the Crush would soon regain control and momentum in the match.

In what would turn out to be the game winner, sophomore Vanessa Torres would put the Crush up for good in the 33rd minute with her first of the year. Following a Quintero free kick that the Santa Barbara goalkeeper couldn't hold onto, Torres rushed the ball inside the six yard box and buried the shot, giving the Crush a 2-1 lead. Three minutes later, Quintero extend the lead to 3-1 with a glancing far post header from a cross on the left flank by sophomore Annika Van Beurden. She has now scored a team leading seven goals in seven games.

The Crush Women's Soccer team now have an overall record of 4-1-2. They are on the road for their next and last two non-conference matches, traveling to LA Pierce and Bakersfield next week. CVC play starts for the Crush at home on Tuesday, September 25 at 4:00pm against the College of the Sequoias. Go Crush!!!