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By Ricky Holmes / Staff Writer
Impact (Khai Le / Online Editor)
By Ricky Holmes / Staff Writer
The women’s soccer team faced off against the very tough Cypress College on Oct. 2.
The Tigers and the Chargers played for 90 minutes in a game that showcased both teams’ defensive strengths with the game ending in a scoreless tie.
For Riverside, the game was pivotal because Cypress was undefeated going into the game.
Although the Tigers were unable to come away with a win, the team was able to add the first blemish to the Chargers’ record.
During the first half, the Tigers were unable to muster up very much offense and spent most of the first half with their backs against the wall.
Riverside was able to thwart off several close calls with great defense and two exceptional stops by goalkeeper Christina Beckerle.
Cypress dominated ball control during the first half giving Riverside very few scoring opportunities.
Riverside City College‘s Danielle DeLong had a great chance to score midway through when she raced out in front of the pack with only one defender to beat.
Campbell was able to shake the defender, but the goalkeeper for Cypress was able to make the stop and Riverside was unable to capitalize on the run.
Cypress, on the other hand, had no problems advancing into Tiger territory.
Although the Chargers seemed to be able to move the ball at will, they were still unable to score. Several of their deep runs were also ended because of costly offsides penalties.
Before the end of the half, Cypress had its best opportunity to score on a free kick. The kick ricocheted off of a Charger defender and went out of bounds, giving Riverside possession for the remainder of the half.
It’s not known what coach Lynsey Jalayer said to her team during halftime, but whatever she said seemed to work.
The Tigers came out in the second half playing like a completely different team. They came out more energized and focused on the task at hand.
After defending a near goal by Cypress in the first five minutes of the second half, the Tigers seemed to regain their focus.
Riverside displayed much better ball control and was able to advance into Charger territory more frequently.
Riverside‘s Reosha Campbell was able to break free from two def
enders near midfield and shoot the ball.
If it wasn’t for an amazing sliding save by the Cypress goalkeeper, Campbell would have scored.
The rest of the second half was anti-climactic with only two real scoring opportunities, both by Cypress.
Both opportunities came from corner kicks late in the game. One shot was stopped by good defense and the other shot was stopped by a heads up play by RCC’s goalkeeper to keep the game scoreless.
After the game, Jalayer was very upbeat in her post-game speech with the team.
Jalayer told the team that she was proud of the effort that the team gave against the undefeated Cypress team.
“We showed a lot of character and spirit and we got the shut out,” Jalayer said.
In the Tiger’s nine regular season games thus far, the team has amassed three shut outs. The other two shut outs were against Southwestern College and Irvine Valley College.
“I think our midfield really battled and in the back we didn’t allow them to get behind us,” Jalayer said.
“I think if we keep this momentum going we will have a successful season,” she said.
The Tigers won their latest game,6-0, against Golden West on Oct. 6 in a one sided match. Reosha Campbell lead RCC with three goals for the “hat-trick.”
For the remainder of the regular season for the Tigers will be spent playing against Orange Empire Conference opponents with five games at home in Norco and six games on the road to finish off the schedule.
Catchin’ Up (Khai Le / Online Editor)
