Cougars Settle for 1-1 Draw vs. No. 15 Santa Monica

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director  

College of the Canyons sophomore Victoria Martinez put the Cougars on the board late in the second half with an equalizer goal that netted a 1-1 draw vs. No. 15 Santa Monica College on Friday. 

Martinez' score, her team-leading 11th of the season, came unassisted in the 78th minute and set the stage for a frenzied final 12 minutes of action in which Canyons searched to find a go-ahead goal.

Canyons (12-4-2, 8-2-2) entered the game narrowly trailing Santa Monica (13-3-3, 8-1-3) in the Western State Conference (WSC), South Division standings, needing a victory to keep pace in the final days of the regular season. 

After a scoreless opening half those aspirations took a hit when Santa Monica's Jacky Hernandez scored on a long free kick that just arched over the outstretched hands of COC goalkeeper Hayley Bench in the 55th minute to give the Corsairs a lead at 1-0. 

Bench (10-3-2) faced six shots and recorded five saves across the 90 minutes of play.

Santa Monica outshot Canyons 11-6 for the match with eight coming in the opening half. Martinez, Felicia Marquez and Vivian Martinez all banked shots on goal for the Cougars. 

COC, which played the match without several key players and was limited to just two substitutions, earned the game's only corner kick.

The Cougars take to the road Tuesday, Nov. 12 to face Antelope Valley College in an early 11:30 a.m. start time. COC then plays its regular season finale on Friday, Nov. 15 vs. L.A. Valley College.  A brief sophomore night ceremony will precede first touch at 4 p.m. with that game scheduled to be broadcast to fans via YouTube on the Cougars Sports Network. 

Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.