Corsairs Defeat 2022 State Champions

Caylo Seals | Photo Editor

Santa Monica College Corsairs women soccer team after defeating the Saddleback College Bobcats, their first of the season, at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 1-0, scoring the goal through a penalty kick in the final minutes of the first half. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College women’s soccer head coach for the Corsairs Aaron Benditson cries with excitement because the Corsairs defeated the Saddleback College Bobcats, their first defeat of the season, at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 1-0, scoring the goal through a penalty kick in the final minutes of the first half. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs defense Bella Velazco (L-R), forward Tia Lucas, and defense Izzy Turner run back from the locker room at the end of halftime during a soccer game against the Saddleback College Bobcats at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 1-0, the scoring the goal through a penalty kick in the final minutes of the first half. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsair midfielder Vashti Zuniga (center) being embraced by her team after they defeated the Saddleback College Bobcats, their first defeat of the season, at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 1-0, scoring the goal through a penalty kick by Zuniga in the final minutes of the first half. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College women’s soccer head coach for the Corsairs Aaron Benditson cries with excitement because the Corsairs defeated the Saddleback College Bobcats, their first defeat of the season, at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 1-0, scoring the goal through a penalty kick in the final minutes of the first half. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsair defense Jessica Narez runs back from the locker room at the end of halftime during a soccer game against the Saddleback College Bobcats at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 1-0, the scoring the goal through a penalty kick in the final minutes of the first half. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Women’s soccer beats previously undefeated Saddleback in tense playoff.

The Santa Monica College Corsairs women’s soccer team defeated the Saddleback College Bobcats 1-0 in a tense playoff match on Nov. 21 in Mission Viejo, California. The Bobcats were undefeated this season, and also last year’s state champion. Both teams came close to scoring several times throughout the game, yet it was Corsair midfielder Vashti Zuniga who scored a point during a penalty shot in the final minutes of the first half.

“She almost guessed my side, and she almost blocked my penalty. But I placed it where I wanted it, and fortunately for me, it went in,” said Zuniga. “It was a really, really, difficult game.”

The Corsairs’ next game is against the Cypress College Chargers on Nov. 25. To prepare, the team is going to watch game footage to understand how the Chargers play, and are optimistic about the next game.

“I am just overwhelmed with emotion. We have never gone this far, and to take down the state champion, they haven’t lost a game in over a year,” said head coach Aaron Benditson. “For everything this team has gone through to keep our season alive, it is an amazing feeling.”

Santa Monica College Corsair forward Jacky Hernandez running the ball towards the goal during the first half of a soccer game against the Saddleback College Bobcats at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 1-0, the scoring the goal through a penalty kick in the final minutes of the first half. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsair forward Jacky Hernandez running the ball towards the goal during the first half of a soccer game against the Saddleback College Bobcats at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 1-0, the scoring the goal through a penalty kick in the final minutes of the first half. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsair defense Bella Velazco (right) looses control of the ball to Saddleback College Bobcat midfielder Danyela Jara (left) in the first half of a soccer game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 1-0, the scoring the goal through a penalty kick in the final minutes of the first half. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsair forward Alinna Savaterre prepares to throw the ball back in bounds during a the first half of a soccer game against the Saddleback College Bobcats at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 1-0, the scoring the goal through a penalty kick in the final minutes of the first half. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsair forward Alinna Savaterre prepares to throw the ball back in bounds during a the first half of a soccer game against the Saddleback College Bobcats at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 1-0, the scoring the goal through a penalty kick in the final minutes of the first half. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsair forward Jacky Hernandez (right) passes the ball to forward Amarah Martinez (left) after Saddleback College Bobcat midfielder Danyela Jara attempted to take it from her at in the first half of a soccer game Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 1-0, the scoring the goal through a penalty kick in the final minutes of the first half. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsair forward Amarah Martinez (right) attacks while Saddleback College Bobcat’s defense Summer Hackett (left) attempts to take control of the ball in the second half of a soccer game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 1-0, the scoring the goal through a penalty kick in the final minutes of the first half. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsair forward Amarah Martinez (right) attacks while Saddleback College Bobcat’s defense Summer Hackett (left) attempts to take control of the ball in the second half of a soccer game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 1-0, the scoring the goal through a penalty kick in the final minutes of the first half. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)