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SBCC Falls To Top Ranked Utah Valley At WCLA Nationals

Box Score

May. 10, 2023

Virginia Beach, VA - The Vaqueros had a 3-3 second quarter and pulled to within one goal partway through that quarter but first ranked and top seeded Utah Valley University led 8-5 at halftime. SBCC freshman Kiara Kofoed (Orinda, CA) scored with 1:20 left in the first half to get the Vaqueros within three goals and SBCC had another shot on goal in the final ten seconds of the first half. Kofoed led SBCC in scoring with 4 goals and an assist.  The #1 ranked Wolverines wore down the Vaqueros during the second half and went on to win 16-7 but it wasn't until most of the third quarter was counted down when Utah Valley got their 8th goal and that proved to the winning goal with 5:40 remaining in the period. 

The matchup was the first pool play game for both teams at the WCLA National Championship tournament at the Princess Anne Athletic Complex in Virginia Beach. SBCC, seeded 8th in the twelve team WCLA Tournament, were given a matchup with the #1 seed in their pool play opener but battled the entire way. Sophomore Sabrina Forbes (Santa Clarita, CA) scored unassisted with 11:10 remaining in the second quarter to get the Vaqueros to 4-5, forcing the Wolverines to call a time out.

"Trailing only a goal and competing like we did in the midfield to put Sabrina in position to score we had some momentum going into their timeout," said coach Paul Ramsey. "Coming out of it they tightened up their defense and it became increasingly more difficult for us to find the open player."

Facing the SBCC shooting was First Team All-American goalie Beverly Jones for Utah Valley who was also named WCLA Goalie Of The Year in the USA Lacrosse All-American Awards Ceremony on Tuesday night. Jones, considered the top goalie in all the land, also benifitted from a defense that always had two defenders on the ball. SBCC offense had very little time to move Jones when they were shooting. On the other end of the field the Vaqueros were dealing with WCLA Amtahcha Player Of The Year Maya Lightfoot and WCLA Attacker Of The Year Rebekah Sheperd. 

"The deck was certainly stacked for them and it was tough for us to be seeded 8th out of twelve and play #1 right out the gate but enough about them," said Ramsey. "For our first year together roster and for this team to compete like we did at this level and keep improving together through the game was really nice to see."  

The Vaqueros defense started dictating Lightfoot's cuts to the ball and then caused some Utah Valley turnovers, including forcing All-American Sheperd to turn the ball over. Then when SBCC were on offense there were chances to score but just not the finishing against Jones and the Wolverines' crashing defense.

"We need to play more games with teams like this one," added Ramsey.

SBCC dropped to 10-2 and faces Pacific Lutheran in their second pool play game at 11:00am EST on Wednesday on Field 2 at the Princess Anne Athletic Complex.  Utah Valley improved to 15-1 and has their pool play game with Pacific Lutheran right away at 1:00pm EST today.