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Hornbeck, Maier Lead Warriors All-SCC Selections
November 21, 2011
Sophomore midfielder Shannon Hornbeck and freshman Rebecca Maier were two of four Warriors named to the All-South Coast Conference team last week. Hornbeck made her second appearance on the All-SCC team, but it was her debut on the All-SCC First Team. Hornbeck was part of the defensive backbone for the Warriors this season and she also tallied two assists.
Maier made the All-SCC First Team in her freshman year thanks to her uncanny ability to score. Maier led the Warriors with 11 goals this season and was second on the team with 23 points. Maier scored important goals time and again this season and will definitely be a threat to make a repeat appearance on this list next season.
The Warriors also had two players selected to the All-SCC Second team, led by freshman Itchel Guzman. The forward out of El Segundo High School led the team with 27 points. She was second on the team with 10 goals and led the Warriors with seven assists. Guzman took the free kicks for the Warriors this season and scored a few magnificent goals in that spot.
Sophomore midfielder Marilyn Cervantes rounded out the Warriors selections to the All-SCC team, making her first appearance on the second team. Cervantes scored two goals and had two assists this season and was very versatile, playing a variety of positions on the field.
Freshman midfielder Cecy Perez was named Honorable Mention. She tallied one assist this season for the Warriors.
Women's Soccer Players Impress On Field And In The Classroom
November 16, 2011
The El Camino College women’s soccer team had a solid season in 2011 and nearly made the playoffs despite missing a few key players. But in a year that was full of impressive achievements, the most impressive is that seven players from the team not only excelled on the field, but also in the classroom as they were named 2011 Scholar Ballers.
The Scholar Baller Program was founded by a group of professors and academic administrators and is intended to inspire students in the middle school, high school or college level to develop leadership skills and to excel in their education by using their interests in sports as motivation. The program is supported by the NCAA and has collaborates with more than 50 colleges and universities, including El Camino College. In order to be recognized as a Scholar Baller, a student must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 at El Camino College.
Goalkeeper Bronwyn O’Neil and position players Shannon Hornbeck, Yennifer Baca, Kelsea Nash, Vanessa Reid, Korrina Guerrero, Marilyn Cervantes, and Alexandra Butt were recognized during halftime of the Nov. 12 Warriors football game.
“I think it’s great,” Baca said. “I think this brings us more together as a group.”
Baca was an important piece of the Warriors puzzle this season. She played every position except goalkeeper and was third on the team in scoring with three goals. She was thrilled to be acknowledged for her academic achievements.
“I’m super excited,” Baca said. “Trying to stay focused in school and also in soccer is something that I’ve been working on throughout the whole season.”
Baca is a nursing major and has high aspirations when she departs from El Camino College, hoping to one day start a foundation to help children around the world.
“Travelling and helping people of my heritage (is) something I want to do,” Baca said. “It’s what I love to do.”
O’Neil anchored the Warriors defense with her presence in front of the net. The sophomore from El Segundo High School had 13 wins and nine shutouts with a .952 save percentage in 1,894 minutes played. She noted what a difficult road it has been for her to juggle both her academics and soccer.
“It’s hard (and) in the beginning I wasn’t really that great at it,” O’Neil said. “But I’ve learned how to manage my time now (and) I think it’s just about keeping yourself organized. You can get really roughed up in soccer and you need to make sure you have enough time for practice and homework.”
Hornbeck, a sophomore midfielder, was another staple of the Warriors defense and dished out two assists during the season. The sociology major was thrilled to be named a 2011 Scholar Baller.
“It’s hard to do both soccer and school so I’m really excited about that,” Hornbeck said.
Guerrero is a biology major but enjoys her math classes most of all. Soccer has helped her to focus on her studies.
“It keeps me motivated and competitive to get the best grades in the class,” Guerrero said.
Nash patrolled the wings this season with the Warriors and tallied one goal and one assist on the year.
“It feels cool, I feel smart,” Nash said. “I think soccer makes school more fun because you have something else to concentrate on and it also relieves stress.”
Warriors Drop Finale To Long Beach
November 10, 2011
The Warriors gave up two goals in the first half and could not recover, dropping the final game of the season to Long Beach 2-1 Thursday in a South Coast Conference match at Murdock Stadium.
The visiting Vikings came out firing, scoring two goals in the first 21 minutes of the game to take a commanding 2-0 lead. But the Warriors fought back again as Marilyn Cervantes scored on a header in the 42nd minute, punching in a rebound off an Itchel Guzman free kick that hit the crossbar to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The Warriors continued applying the pressure in the second half, essentially setting up camp in the Vikings end for the duration of the period. Goalkeeper Bronwyn O’Neill made nine saves on the day, including five in the second half to keep the Warriors within striking distance.
But the team could not punch in the game-tying score and the Vikings escaped with a 2-1 victory and the playoff spot. The Warriors finished the season with an impressive 13-7-1 overall record, 8-6 in the South Coast Conference and just a few bounces shy of making it to the postseason. Congratulations to the Warriors on a solid year.
Guzman, Maier Lead Comeback Versus ELAC
November 8, 2011
For more than 60 minutes, the Warriors offense struggled to get anything going against East Los Angeles and trailed 1-0. But forward Itchel Guzman and midfielder Rebecca Maier changed all that by scoring a goal apiece to close out the game and give the Warriors a 2-1 comeback victory over the Huskies Tuesday in a South Coast Conference match at Murdock Stadium.
The first half was a battle of defenses as neither team could get a quality scoring chance early in the game. The Warriors only managed to get one shot on goal during the first half and the Huskies sent two shots at the Warriors net.
But the Huskies were able to cash in on one of them as they sent a shot past a diving Bronwyn O’Neil in the 21st minute to take a 1-0 lead into the half.
The Warriors turned up the pressure in the second half, firing four shots at the Huskies goal in the first 15 minutes of the half. Their best chance came on a point blank shot from sophomore Marilyn Cervantes in the 55th minute that was kicked away by the Huskies goalkeeper.
But Guzman and Maier finally solved the puzzle as they were both able to beat the Huskies keeper and the Warriors scored an important conference victory and inched closer to securing a playoff spot.
The Warriors will host Long Beach in the final match of the season Thursday at 3 p.m. at Murdock Stadium.
Guerrero's Goal Lifts Warriors Past Harbor
November 1, 2011
TORRANCE, Calif. – Korrina “K.K.” Guerrero picked a great time to score her first goal of the season and the Warriors defeated visiting L.A. Harbor 1-0 Wednesday in a South Coast Conference match at Murdock Stadium.
Goalkeeper Bronwyn O’Neill made three saves for her eighth shutout of the season.
The Warriors (12-5-1, 7-4) applied pressure early on the Seahawks (6-10-2, 2-7-2) and appeared to cash in one of those early chances in the 19th minute when freshman forward Itchel Guzman bended a free kick past Seahawks goalkeeper Jillian Anderson.
But the referee disallowed the goal due to a violation and the teams remained scoreless. Guzman had another chance at a free kick goal a few minutes later, but she bent the shot just a bit much as it hit the inside of the left post and walked a tightrope on the wrong side of the goal line before the Seahawks defense cleared the danger.
The score remained deadlocked until the 38th minute when the Warriors capitalized on a Seahawks turnover in their own half of the field. Sophomore Vanessa Reid stole the ball from a Seahawks midfielder along the right sideline at midfield and sent a cross to Guerrero in the middle of the field, who touched it ahead to freshman Brittany Brown.
After dribbling to the left edge of the box, Brown touched it back to Guerrero at the top left corner of the box. She then lofted a shot that sailed over the outstretched arms of Anderson and into the right corner of the net.
The Warriors defense stepped it up from there, as they had to withstand a furious rally by the Seahawks in the second half. Sophomore Melissa Ramirez had the best chance for the visitors, chasing down a pass behind the Warriors defense and touching the ball past a challenging O’Neill. But the touch was too much as Ramirez could not catch up to the ball and her sliding attempt hit the side of the net.
The Warriors will travel to Pasadena on Friday, a team they defeated 3-1 on Oct. 11 at Murdock Stadium.
Maier Scores As Warriors Snap Two-Game Losing Streak
October 21, 2011
TORRANCE, Calif. – Rebecca Maier scored early in the second half and the Warriors defeated Mt. San Antonio College 1-0 in a South Coast Conference match Friday at Murdock Stadium.
The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for the Warriors (10-4-1, 5-3) and kept them in the top half of the SCC standings.
Goalkeeper Bronwyn O’Neill had six saves for the Warriors to record her fifth shutout of the season.
Maier scored minutes after the Warriors lost defender Shannon Hornbeck to a red card. Despite being down a player, the Warriors got the ball deep into Mounties territory where freshman Itchel Guzman left a drop-pass to Maier at the top of the box. Maier then unloaded a shot from 20 yards away that found its way into the top corner of the goal.
In the first half, both teams played to a 0-0 tie with the defenses controlling the action and allowing minimal scoring chances.
The best opportunities for both teams came on back-to-back possessions in the first 10 minutes of the match. Freshman Itchel Guzman got loose in the visiting Mounties (4-9, 2-6) box and took a shot that was kicked away by goalkeeper Loren Cerafice. The Mounties cleared the rebound and proceeded to get a chance of their own.
Freshman forward Christine Mercer led a breakaway for the Mounties and fired a shot on goal but O’Neill dove right and knocked the ball away with both hands to clear the danger.
The Warriors will look to start a new winning streak when they travel to El Camino College Compton Center on Oct. 25.
Maier Scores Twice As Warriors Top Pasadena
October 11, 2011
TORRANCE, Calif. – Freshman midfielder Rebecca Maier scored two goals to help propel the Warriors to a 3-1 South Coast Conference victory over Pasadena Tuesday at Murdock Stadium.
Forward Alexandra Butt also scored for the Warriors (9-2-1, 4-1) and goalkeeper Bronwyn O’Neill made seven saves. Sophomore midfielder Joleen Galeazzi-Pimentel scored for the Lancers (4-5-3, 1-3-1) on a first-half penalty kick.
The Warriors dominated possession during the first half and had a myriad of scoring chances in the first 20 minutes of play. Maier got the offense started with a blistering shot in the 4th minute that was knocked away by Lancers goalkeeper Tatiana Cruz. Another shot by Maier went off a Lancers defender a few minutes later but Maier would have the last laugh.
In the 13th minute, Maier again had the ball deep in Lancers territory. She dribbled to the left edge of the box, then crossed over her defender and fired a hard left-footed shot that went off Cruz’s hands and bulged the left side of the net to give the Warriors the early 1-0 lead.
But the Lancers came back in the 27th minute when a shot went off a Warriors defender’s hand and the referees awarded the Lancers a penalty kick, which Galeazzi-Pimentel tucked into the right corner to tie the score.
The score remained that way until late in the half, when Maier struck again with a magnificent goal. The freshman took the ball after a Lancers turnover and lofted a high-arcing shot from the left side that sailed over Cruz’s outstretched arms and settled neatly into the right corner of the goal for the go-ahead score.
Alexandra Butt capped off the scoring for the Warriors, knocking in her own rebound in the 88th minute for her first goal of the season.
Next for the Warriors, a tough road game at No. 25 East Los Angeles College on Friday.
Warriors Lose To Top-Ranked Cerritos
October 4, 2011
TORRANCE, Calif. – The Warriors faced a Cerritos team that came into Murdock Stadium on Wednesday as the top ranked women’s soccer team in the country and the challenge proved to be too much as the Warriors fell 3-0 in a South Coast Conference match.
The Warriors (7-2-1, 2-1) came out strong to start the game as they controlled possession and had the better scoring chances during the first 20 minutes of the match.
The first chance came when freshman forward Itchel Guzman’s shot from the edge of the box was knocked away by Falcons (9-0-0, 3-0) goalkeeper Alexis Carrillo.
Minutes later, the Warriors pressured the Falcons into a turnover a few yards outside of the box and the ball found its way onto the foot of midfielder Rebecca Maier, who fired a shot from straightaway that hit Carrillo in the stomach and tried to slither down through her legs and into the net, but Carrillo was able to control the ball.
It proved to be a big save and the last chance the Warriors would have to take a lead in the match.
In the 19th minute, the Falcons pushed the ball up the right side and sent the ball into the box where, after it bounced off a few players, found its way onto the foot of defender Victoria Carter who found the back of the net to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead.
Then in the 41st minute, the Warriors let freshman midfielder Lauren Nanez get behind their back line and she lofted the ball over Warriors goalkeeper Bronwyn O’Neill to give the Falcons a 2-0 edge and they never looked back.
The Falcons came into the match averaging just under four goals a game and they could have surpassed that if not for the play of O’Neill.
The freshman keeper made 11 saves on the day for the Warriors in a losing effort.
The Warriors will look to bounce back and get back on the winning track when they travel to L.A. Harbor on Friday.
Warriors Stay Hot, Defeat Compton
October 3, 2011
TORRANCE, Calif. – The Warriors dominated the ball all afternoon and scored a 3-0 South Coast Conference victory Friday over ECC Compton Center at Murdock Stadium.
The Warriors (7-1-1, 2-0) offense occupied the visiting Tartars half of the field for most of the afternoon, but it took them 40 minutes before finally finding the back of the net.
Sophomore midfielder Venessa Reid dribbled the ball inside the box in the 40th minute with Tartars defenders and the goalkeeper converging on her. The ball was knocked away but forward Jenny Marino was waiting for the ball in front of the penalty spot and drove the ball in to give the Warriors the lead.
In the second half, the Warriors did not take as long to score as freshman forward Itchel Guzman split two Tartars defenders in the 50th minute only to have her shot knocked back by Tartars goalkeeper Erika Trejo. But forward Rebecca Maier was trailing the play and pounced on the rebound, driving the ball into the back of the net.
Freshman Yennifer Baca added another goal in the 85th minute for the Warriors and goalkeeper Bronwyn O’Neill had two saves.
The Warriors will host Cerritos in their next match on Tuesday.
Warriors Open Home Schedule With a Draw
September 14, 2011
TORRANCE, Calif. – Freshman midfielder Yennifer Baca scored on a penalty late in the first half and the Warriors played to a 1-1 tie against San Diego Mesa Wednesday in their home opener at Murdock Stadium.
The Warriors trailed early in the first half after the Olympians took a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute on a goal scored by Alison Sherwood. It stayed that way until the 37th minute when Warriors forward Jenny Marino (Mira Costa) was leveled by an Olympians defender inside the box and the referees awarded the Warriors a penalty kick.
Baca then stepped up and laced a shot past the Olympians goalkeeper to tie the game for good.
The Warriors did a better job of controlling the ball and the pace in the second half, but both teams struggled to get quality scoring chances. The Warriors best chance to break the deadlock came in the 78th minute. The Warriors had the ball in the attacking third and freshman midfielder Rebecca Maier (West Torrance) put a soft touch on a pass that found its way onto the leg of Baca, who let go a blast that was stoned by the Olympians keeper, keeping the score tied.
The Warriors will take a bit of a break and next play at Victor Valley College on Sept. 23, their last nonconference game of the year.