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The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

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The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

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Top SBCC Vaquero goal scorer Jessica Domenichelli transferring to Division-I school

Top SBCC Vaquero goal scorer Jessica Domenichelli transferring to Division-I school

With a record breaking season, goal machine Jessica Domenichelli led the women’s soccer team to its first WSC title, crowning her Female Athlete of the Year.

Domenichelli scored 27 goals, and recorded 64 points last season, making her the second leading scorer in the state and the conference MVP.

As the 5’7″ striker from El Dorado Hills now leaves the Vaqueros after two years, she is the all-time leading scorer with 52 goals.

“If it wasn’t for Jessica, we may not have won half the games last year,” assistant coach Paul Hart said. “It gives everybody confidence within the team, because they know she’s got a goal in her when the game is tight.”

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The Vaqueros had one of their most successful seasons of all time last year. With a 16-3-0 record in the regular season they became WSC North champions for the first time.

The season came to an abrupt end in the first playoff round with a loss to San Bernardino in a close penalty shootout.

“We didn’t expect it obviously, because going in there we were the first ranked seed,” Domenichelli said. “We weren’t expecting to come out in the penalty kicks and we hadn’t really practiced them.”

Domenichelli was a crucial part of the team’s success and recorded four straight hat tricks in the month of October, including five goals against Hancock.

What she will remember most from her two seasons is not her goal feasts, but the 2-1 victory against arch rivals Ventura last season.

“It was the first time our team has beat them in I don’t know how many years,” Domenichelli said. “When we beat them it pretty much won us the conference.”

Domenichelli is now taking her talents to Arizona, to attend Arizona State University and play for the Sun Devils. She has received a walk-on spot on the team and is looking forward to NCAA Division-I action.

“I’m excited to play at a high level like that,” Domenichelli said. “Playing with really good teams and players, I will have to work for my playing time.”

Despite the level of competition, Hart believes that Domenichelli is ready for the adventure.

“If she’ll give it a chance I think she’ll be successful there,” Hart said. “I think she’ll get the goals, and hopefully she will get as much success there as she did here.”

Despite the opportunity to play on a higher level, she leaves City College with mixed feelings.

“I will miss the team chemistry and all the girls,” Domenichelli said. “I think we had a pretty good two successful seasons.”

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published May 9, 2012.

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