Women's Soccer Season Preview: SBCC Set to Challenge WSC

SANTA BARBARA, CA – The Vaquero women's soccer team will be the first SBCC athletics program to compete at home in the 2022-23 school year, as it gets set to host LA Harbor at 2:00 p.m. at La Playa Stadium.

This will be the 18th year at the helm for four-time WSC-North Coach of the Year John Sisterson, who is joined on both the men's and women's sides by returning assistant coaches Matt Wilkinson and Alex Zermeno.

Under Sisterson's leadership, the Vaqueros have qualified for SoCal Regionals every year since 2010. Following three straight WSC Championships and four straight top-five finishes in the state, last year's Vaqueros went 10-6-3 overall and 6-2-3 to finish third in the conference.

They were unbelievable at home, where they posted an 8-1-1 record while averaging 3.30 goals, compared to the road where they scored more than two goals fewer each contest.

Out of eight 2021 All-Conference selections, six are returning to the team this year, including WSC-North Goalie of the Year Analea Pule. The Orcutt, CA goalkeeper started every game last season, racking up eight clean sheets with 66 saves and a .767 save percentage. She is rejoined by fellow 2021 All-WSC First Teamers Theresa English and Citlali Zambrano, as well as Hanna Crawford, Delaney Kenney, Sofia Orozco and Bella Loflin.

SBCC will be without one of its top offensive producers from last year, with dangerous winger Monica Pizano now playing Westmont. However, English will retake her place at the head of the offense, where in 2021 she finished with team-highs of 10 goals and 25 points.

Defensively, Pule, Zambrano, Crawford and Loflin will reconnect after a year in which the Vaqueros allowed just 20 goals in 19 games with eight shutouts.

The action starts at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 26 against LA Harbor. A live stream and live stats will be provided.