Pirates score five in second half at Cuesta

Playing in the program's 650th overall game since the program's inception in 1996, the Pirates' women's soccer team used a five-goal second half to race past Cuesta 5-2 Wednesday in San Luis Obispo. Jennifer Ramirez's hat trick paced VC (7-6-4, 4-2-2) while Arianna Hernandez scored twice in the game.

The first half was a defensive battle with neither team able to get much going offensively. The Pirates were limited to three shots in the half with two clear scoring opportunities missed.  The Cougars finally broke through in stoppage time to take a 1-0 lead into intermission.

Ventura broke free early in the second half with three goals in an eight minute span. Ramirez beat the Cuesta goal keeper with a shot to the near post from inside the 18-yard box in the 55th minute for the equalizer and Hernandez scored off a free kick two minutes later. Ramirez then headed home a beautiful cross by Samantha Quinonez in the 63rd minute for the 3-1 lead.

Hernandez netted her second goal of the day in the 80th minute from 35-yards out and Ramirez completes the hat trick in the 85th minute with another long shot that was misread by the Cougar GK. 

VC failed to mark a player on a Cuesta corner kick in the 87th minute resulting in a goal for the 5-2 final count.

The Pirates totaled 12 shots in the game, eight on goal while Cuesta had five shots on target on the afternoon. 

The contest was be the 350th Western State Conference contest in program history and the 650th game for Ventura since the team began in 1996. The Pirates are now 426-146-78 overall and 276-44-30 in conference games.

The Pirates next take the pitch at home on Friday Oct. 31 against Allan Hancock at 5:30 pm.