Watching from the bleachers, Rosa Sharift cheered enthusiastically for her team.
Being ill, she was resigned to be a spectator instead of a player, but that didn’t curb her team spirit.
Sharift is an international student from Sweden, attending EC for the first time this semester.
She loves being able to participate in soccer on the team.
Even though Sharift and others were there to encourage the women at last Friday’s game against Long Beach City College, the close game ended with a 1-0 loss for EC.
“It was unfortunate. They played well. Walking away with a loss is frustrating. We fought very hard,” coach Jaymie Baquero said. “We’re going to keep working hard.”
This is the second conference game that the women’s soccer team has played so far.
Even though the team didn’t take home the win, it will look at the loss as motivation to do better in future games, team captain Kelly Bernard said.
“We need higher intensity and to be more serious,” Barnard added.
Despite the loss, EC displayed good footwork and defensive techniques. Luz Ochoa, player No. 6, said. Ochoa was responsible for blocking a goal that came too close for comfort for EC’s team.
The crowd rallied behind the team when player Le Ana Timoteo went for a goal 15 minutes before the game ended, but was blocked at the last minute by the goalie.
Ochoa, Timoteo and the other players gave the game a good effort, and “played aggressively” Mallory Ayala, another team captain, said.
Even so, Barnard believes there is “room for improvement.”
As for the men’s soccer team, aggression, intensity and speed could all describe last Friday’s game, which ended with a 2-2 tie against Long Beach.
“We played hard, and had intensity,” Tony Sandoval, team captain, said.
During the game, coach Eddie Barragan gave shouts of encouragement and advice to his players.
Barragan’s advice mostly involved communicating on the field and providing a strong defense against Long Beach.
“We were a little shaky the first half,” Barragan said. “The defense was apart too much.”
Barragan added that while Long Beach seemed to dominate the first half of the game, El Camino shined in the second half.
Sandoval made the first goal for EC, making it past Long Beach’s defense and obtaining a wide-open shot.
Josimar Garcia made the second goal shortly before the end of the game, tying up the score and giving EC a chance to try again against Long Beach next month.
Even though the team tied instead of winning like they’d hoped, Sandoval had faith in his team that they did their best on the field.
“Our three main players didn’t play. Our subs came in and held us down,” Sandoval said. “Team chemistry is building up. We’re working together.”
Until their next game, they will continue to work on their skills, techniques and sportsmanship, working hard during practices.
Sandoval has faith that it will show.
“We need to work hard. When we work hard, we get results. It’s our work ethic,” Sandoval said.