Strong play from huge freshman class and late defensive contributions help Vikings to their second-straight draw against Ventura College

SARATOGA – 366 days after West Valley played to a hard-fought draw against Ventura College, the Vikings (2-1-1) played a similarly hard-fought 90 minutes for the same result – a defensive battle knotted at nil after 90.

"Overall, Ventura's a really, really good team," said West Valley head coach Fred Espinoza. "A lot of chances both ways, and neither of us could really take advantage of it. So, 0-0 is what, probably, both teams deserved."

The match's first real opportunity came in the 13^th minute for the Pirates (0-2-2) when sophomore Melanie Torres, who scored five goals (three of which were game-winners) during the 2024 season, attacked West Valley keeper Soleana Chavez. Her shot soared high of the cage.

West Valley's first opportunity came in the 17^th minute, when freshman Aubrianna Martinez had an attempt blocked by the defensive front of Ventura. On the second opportunity as the ball bounded back to the Vikings, sophomore Diana Garcia had an angle but was tripped on her

ensuing try.There were a handful of strong defensive moments for the Vikings, maybe none bigger than in the 25^th minute. Pirate sophomore Monse Hernandez, herself the owner of two goals last season, broke free off a two-on-one fastbreak chance. Vikings freshman Ashley Ramirez

tracked her the whole way and made a tremendous tackle to hold Ventura off the scoresheet. Freshmen were the story of the Vikings' first home match of the season, and they figure to be the story the entirety of the 2025 season. Of West Valley's 15 available players, only three –

Chavez, Garcia and leading scorer Ximena Heredia – are not freshmen. "We have 10 new starters out of the 11 that we have for this year," said Espinoza. "Early in the season, they're learning to play, learning the system. Today, they started to show what we needed out of them. A lot

of them haven't played at the collegiate level, [they] don't know how fast it is, how physical it is. And now, they're getting into the rhythm of what they need to show."But the early returns are solid from a huge freshman class. Evelyn Santos entered Sunday's match with a pair of

goals, while Daniela Morales Sanchez entered with a pair of assists."Daniela came from Colombia this year, so she's getting established in the United States," said Espinoza about Morales Sanchez, who seemed to be in and around the action the entire match. "She's growing into the

game. She's becoming our pivotal center point in the central midfield, and I expect to see great things from her for the rest of the season." In the final minutes of the first half, terrific team defense from the Vikings off a corner led to a scoreless halftime ledger.

With Heredia sidelined following a first-half injury, the freshmen had to be relied on even more in the second period. Early on, West Valley's defense allowed a clean look at the net after a through-ball from sophomore Crystal Vargas found sophomore Alondra Sanchez. The Pirates 

followed with a corner kick that they were also unable to convert on.Then came arguably the best scoring opportunity for the Vikings. Garcia feathered one behind the back to Morales Sanchez, who had the keeper collapse on her as he crossed into the scoring area, but Pirate keeper

Janessah Gonzalez read the shot perfectly for a save. "Sole is going to be our rock back there," said Espinoza. "I'm happy with what she did today, the saves she made. She's becoming more vocal in the back. She's becoming one of our better leaders.

Chavez played to a clean sheet, her second of the year, showing strong instincts while retreating back on a 59^th-minute shot from the Pirates and tracking an in-swinging ball just seven minutes later.

West Valley will be back in action against Modesto on Wednesday.