MJC women’s soccer team suffers first loss of season

SANTA ROSA – The Modesto Junior College women’s soccer team suffered its first loss of the season on Friday, falling to Santa Rosa 1-0.

The Pirates, who are ranked No. 1 in the state, knew they were in for a battle against a team that handed MJC its only blemish of the season. Modesto entered the game 16-0-1 – the tie coming against these same Bear Cubs on Oct. 3.

In that game, MJC got out to a 2-0 lead before two second-half goals by Santa Rosa tied it.

On Friday, Santa Rosa scored early thanks to Taylor Halstenson’s tally 14 minutes into the game. From there, goalkeeper Morgan Jernigan kept the Pirates off the board, recording seven saves. MJC’s Elizabeth Amaya had three saves.

The 16-game unbeaten streak to start the season is a record for MJC, which fell to 9-1 in the Valley Conference.

“It’s a great streak, it could stand for 30 years,” MJC coach Steve Aristotelous said. “I’m very proud of the entire team and how they come in ready to work each day.”

MJC has three games left in the regular season – its next at home on Monday against Cosumnes River. Game time at MJC’s west campus is 3 p.m.

This story was originally published October 31, 2014 at 7:51 PM with the headline "MJC women’s soccer team suffers first loss of season."