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October 7, 2026
Student News Publication of Santa Monica College
Presidential candidate introduced to campus community Read on page 4
October 7, 2026 | Volume 129 Issue 2 | Santa Volume Monica 129 | Issue 2 College
Corsair Staff
2 Sofia Kieser | Editor in Chief Vicki Mehdizadeh | Managing Editor Elizabeth Bacher | Photo Editor Jordi Garcia Sosa, Tom Rosholt | Assistant Photo Editors
October 7, 2026
Caelen Perkins | Assistant News Editor
Victor Estrada, Mia Whitlock | Sports Co-Editors
Manuel Brooks | Culture Editor
Jacqueline Martin, Marco Aragon | Copy Editors
Amaya Chism, Eliette Hyde | Arts & Entertainment Co-Editors
Lisa Williams | Multimedia Editor
Paola Carrasco, Madison Taylor | Opinion Co-Editors
Christine Muñoz | Social Media Editor
Patrick Conlon | News Editor Faculty Advisers: Sharyn Obsatz || Writing Adviser Gerard Burkhart || Photo Adviser Samantha Nuñez || Social Media Adviser
Kollin Zullo | Digital Editor
Staff Writers | Adrian Ibarra, Allison Hyun, Ashley Gomez, Victor Estrada, Caelen Perkins, Daniela Tapia, Jerritt Clark, Rebecca Merida, Patrick LoBuglio, Milo Ochoa Garcia, Diego Carrillo, Lisa Williams, Thia Doenges, Adelfo Aguilera, Marissa Matias, Elliot Leary, Ella Rothman, Manuel Mateo Staff Photographers | Guillermo de la Barreda, Andy Garcia, Juliana Frame, Jose Hernandez, Eojin Seo, Lisa Whitmore Jared Bojorquez, Demi Ramirez, Jiayi Jiang, Ruby Grossman-Sartain, Azael Rios Ramos, Azael Rios Ramos, Marshon Allen Gonzo, John Orihu, Masanori Aguayo, Christopher Conelly, Jason Purisima, Silke Eichholz Social Media Staff | Gisselle Martinez, Monique Strong, Chasity Alexander, Carlo Jones, Daniel Weinblut, Sepalle Nseke, Adelina Rico, Jasiah Jimerson, Faithani Fox, Maurice Jacobsen, Cherrish Thomas, Kenya Gittens, Simon Gonzalez, Maya Gonzalez, Samuel Kim, Natacha Vilson, Noah Clark Front Cover: Santa Monica College Superintendent/President finalist Dr. Candace D. Jones answers pre-submitted questions during the Superintendent/President Finalist Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in the Orientation Hall at SMC Main Campus, Santa Monica, Calif. Jones emerged as the sole finalist for the position after advancing alongside another candidate, who later withdrew from the search for undisclosed reasons. (Silke Eichholz | The Corsair) Inside Cover: A Santa Monica College STEM Student showing off a Bat Starfish during the SMC STEM Fundraiser Launch the Future on Sept. 29, 2026, at the Science and Math Building, Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, Calif. The Launch the Future Fundraiser is to raise funds for SMC STEM programs to expand access, innovation, and opportunity for students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) for SMC Students. (Jordi Garcia Sosa | The Corsair)
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October 7, 2026
Letter From the Editor Welcome to fall, officially. For many women on college campuses right now, the question of how safe we are is constantly ringing in our minds. For Jane Doe, and for women who have been in her place, that question rings even louder. The Cornell Daily Sun broke the story of a lawsuit filed by a former Cornell student, identified as Jane Doe, who alleges she was sexually assaulted by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity in 2024. Reading Jane Doe’s story made me think about how often women are expected to navigate spaces where their safety is treated as something they have to manage themselves. As women, we’re constantly taught how to avoid becoming victims. Watch your drink. Don’t walk alone. Share your location. Be careful about who you trust. We learn these things so young that they start to feel normal. But how often do we ask the men around us to take responsibility for creating safer spaces? Why are women the ones expected to carry the responsibility for preventing violence? The men who are allowed to excuse harmful behavior, protect their friends or avoid accountability don’t disappear after college. These are the people who will eventually lead companies, institutions and communities. The systems they participate in now can follow them into the future. Women shouldn’t have to spend their years calculating how safe we are. We should be able to go to class, attend a party, walk home or meet new people without having to wonder whether we’ve done enough to protect ourselves. The Daily Sun, a student newsroom, breaking Jane Doe’s story and choosing to ask questions that were both uncomfortable and important, is a reason to keep asking harder questions about power, accountability and what we expect from the people around us. It’s our responsibility as journalists to make sure important stories don’t disappear just because they’re difficult to tell. The importance of student newsrooms shouldn’t be overlooked, and I hope we at The Corsair can ask the uncomfortable questions which lead to answers that make an impact.
Editor in Chief
— Sofia Kieser * Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this letter are the sole opinion of the Editor in Chief, Sofia Kieser. These views do not represent The Corsair or Santa Monica College. Volume 129 | Issue 2
SMC meets new superintendent candidate 4
October 7, 2026
SMC hosts a forum introducing Candace Jones, the sole candidate advanced by the hiring committee for the superintendent position.
Written by Patrick Conlon and Caelen Perkins
SMC Superintendent/President finalist Dr. Candace D. Jones smiles at her sister after her last one-on-one conversation at the Superintendent/President Finalist Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in the Orientation Hall at SMC Main Campus,. Jones answered pre-submitted questions as the sole finalist for the Superintendent/President position after advancing alongside another candidate, who later withdrew from the search for undisclosed reasons. Silke Eichholz | The Corsair
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Silke Eichholz | The Corsair Superintendent/President finalist Dr. Candace D. Jones gestures with her hands while Silke Eichholz | The Corsair answering pre-submitted questions during the Superintendent/President Finalist Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in the Orientation Hall at SMC Main Campus. Jones emerged Superintendent/President finalist Dr. Candace D. Jones smiles during a hug during a oneas the sole finalist for the Superintendent/President position after advancing alongside on-one conversation after the Superintendent/President Finalist Forum on Tuesday, Sept. another candidate, who later withdrew from the search for undisclosed reasons. 22, 2026, in the Orientation Hall at SMC Main Campus. Jones answered pre-submitted questions as the sole finalist for the Superintendent/President position after advancing alongside another candidate, who later withdrew from the search for undisclosed reasons.
On Tuesday, Sept. 22, SMC hosted a forum to meet superintendent candidate Candace Jones. She became the sole candidate to replace Kathryn Jeffery, who is retiring at the end of the year, after the other candidate withdrew their application for reasons that SMC has not publicly disclosed. After the forum, Jones went before the board of trustees for her final interview. According to SMC’s Vice President of Human Resources, Tre’Shawn Hall-Baker, the board could announce a decision as soon as the next board meeting on Oct. 6, but the decision could also be announced sometime after that. If Jones is hired, she faces a structural deficit of nearly $5 million left unresolved by Jeffery, ongoing contract negotiations with the faculty union and the college’s recent placement on enhanced financial monitoring by accreditors. Despite these challenges, Jones has a positive outlook of SMC’s future. Since being confirmed as vice president of administrative and business services in January 2025 at Long Beach City College, Jones says she’s leveraged her background in IT and systems management and claims to have to closed LBCC’s $7 million structural deficit without laying anyone off.
Jones said she was cautious about confirming whether further layoffs would be needed to address SMC’s fiscal problems but incorporating emerging technologies such as AI for modeling expenses could help the college plan its expenses, she said. “There’s only so much funding; if we were going to lose that funding, how do we do it strategically, intentionally, with a lot of thought rather than in the moment when those funds disappear,” Jones said. Describing her thought process when facing difficult decisions, Jones said she asks herself three important questions: Who does the decision benefit, who bears the burden of the decision, and how to mitigate harm. She used changing a financial aid disbursement date as an example of a seemingly small decision that greatly impacts the community; murmurs of agreement were heard from the audience. Bridgette B. Robinson, assistant chair of the English Department and senior adviser of the Pan African Alliance of Faculty and Staff, contrasted the environment at the college Jones would face with the one Jeffery came into in 2016. “There was a bright shiny future for education, we didn’t have a pandemic,” Robison said. “The growth of the college was
so exponential in such a short period, I think that was a lot of Dr. Jeffery’s focus then, whereas now we are in a maintenance period.” Robinson said she appreciates Jones’ business-oriented mindset and grounded vision. “She didn’t present a rainbow vision of the future,” Robinson said. Jones promised to build community trust through transparency by consistently being present on campus and listening to all perspectives. “We’ve got to have students at the table. We’ve got to have faculty, staff and administrators at the table,” Jones said. “Where trust starts to be built, is when you see your input reflected in those decisions.” Karen Gunn, former chair and professor of the SMC psychology department, described some of her current concerns. “With some of the things that have occurred here on campus, everybody hasn’t brought the real. They keep things underground until it gets too difficult, and then they come out in bad ways,” Gunn said. “It’s like when the tea pot is boiling, you’ve got a couple of choices. You can turn the fire off, you can take the top off and let the steam go.”
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October 7, 2026
SMC’s STEM Brilliance on Display
SMC STEM Fundraiser Launch the Future attendees gathered around the open bar at the fundraiser on Sept. 29, 2026, at the Science and Math Building. The Launch the Future Fundraiser is to raise funds for SMC STEM programs to expand access, innovation, and opportunity for students pursuing STEM at SMC Students.
Jordi Garcia Sosa | The Corsair
STEM students and faculty demonstrate their knowledge through projects for donors Photographs by Jordi Garica Sosa & Gregg Hawthorne Written By Patrick LoBuglio
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he SMC Foundation held a fundraising mixer for Santa Monica College’s STEM program on Saturday evening, Sept. 26, in the new Math and Sciences Building.
“If we were to combine humanitarian majors with STEM majors, we would create solutions to a lot of problems in our society today,” Sandoval said.
Donors viewed the solar system at the planetarium, looked through the state-ofthe-art telescopes at the observatory and watched student and faculty project demonstrations. The foundation provided attendees with refreshments, music and access to the building’s rooftop.
Sandoval said that despite STEM classes’ rigor, they teach students grit and “they also show you how things in our natural world work,” she said.
Leslie Huerta Sandoval, a third-year civil engineering student, gave a presentation on environmentally friendly roofing, called “green roofs,” which she said are “basically having vegetation on top of a roof.
Madison Asgirsson, a first-year student in her second semester pursuing an associate degree in aquaculture, led a demonstration on intertidal animals such as starfish, sea cucumbers, sand dollars, and sea anemones. Asgirsson said she plans to continue her studies in graduate school to pursue a master’s in marine sciences.
Sandoval said “green roofs” could save homeowners money on energy, reduce cities’ carbon emissions, save water, and decrease their overall pollution.
Asgirsson said AI has led people to ask a computer how things work, “but you could go out there, and you could find it for yourself, and I think that’s just so fascinating.”
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She said meeting people interested in SMC’s STEM program has made her hopeful for the future, and the donor expo was a great opportunity for the department to show off its work. Despite the many field trips already in her program, Asgirsson said she would like to see more. “We already do so many, but field trips are such an awesome hands-on learning experience,” Asgirsson said. Professor Maria Muñoz, chair of the communication and media studies department, teaches media studies at SMC and donated to the event. She said STEM programs open up opportunities for cross-disciplinary studies that many wouldn’t expect. “I teach media; I think it would be interesting to see how science is represented in our films, in our television,” Muñoz said.
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October 7, 2026
Gregg Hawthorne | The Corsair Madison Asgeirson, 28, of Los Angeles, a student in the sciences department, shows sea wildlife on Saturday, September 26th, while guiding guests through a live wildlife activation at “Launch the Stars,” a STEM fundraiser held at Santa Monica College’s new Math+Science building.
Jordi Garcia Sosa | The Corsair Animal Skulls on display duing the SMC STEM Fundraiser Launch the Future on Sept. 29, 2026, at the Science and Math Building, Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, Calif. The Launch the Future Fundraiser is to raise funds for SMC STEM programs to expand access, innovation, and opportunity for students pursuing STEM for SMC Students.
“I think that if you are curious at all about anything, there is some branch of STEM that will help you learn more about that curiosity, and I think that it really nurtures a curious nature in people that I think we really need to nurture,” Madison Asgirsson
Jordi Garcia Sosa | The Corsair Daniel Castro Lopez, SMC Mechanical Engineering student demonstrating a standing wave lab by showing how tension and frequencies influence node formations through a piece of string during the SMC STEM Fundraiser Launch the Future on Sept. 29, 2026, at the Science and Math Building. The Launch the Future Fundraiser is to raise funds for SMC STEM programs to expand access, innovation, and opportunity for students pursuing STEM
Muñoz said her interest in science continued from her time as a student into being a professor: “I still have a strong interest in the sciences. I just didn’t pursue it as an academic; for instance, I’m a volunteer at the Aquarium of the Pacific. I’m an educator there. Marine sciences wasn’t my major; it’s not what I teach. I have a passion for it, so I volunteer at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, she said.
portunity for our students to have facilities like this in the Math and Sciences.”
way for young people ultimately to advance in life,” he said.
Travis Pecorelli, a chemistry professor at SMC for 15 years, presented molecular models of aroma and color in California wine.
“It’s a wonderful event. We just saw some boa constrictors, and I’m about to go into the planetarium, so I’m looking forward to seeing that,” Scherrer said.
“We can say this is the molecule that’s responsible for that aroma,” Pecorelli said.
Muñoz said, “It’s great to see colleagues outside of the traditional working hours and being here to support such an amazing op-
Doug Scherrer joined the board of the SMC Foundation more than two years ago. “All subjects, STEM-related, are a wonderful
Karin Lehmann, a donor at the event, said she was thrilled. “It’s over the top. I really enjoy it, yeah. It’s very well put together. I love the people with lab coats with goggles and the colors, and the design of the building is just outstanding,” Lehmann said.
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October 7, 2026
Latine Heritage Month
Andy Garcia | The Corsair Aztec Dancer and leader of the performance, Xochipilli Medrano wears a beaded headpiece showing a traditional bird.
Aztec Dancers Kick Off Campus Celebration Daniela Tapia and Marco Aragon | The Corsair
Aztec Dancer Araceli Contreras wears a black skull decorated head piece and traditonal gold facial jewelry during a Latinx Heritage Month performance at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 17. The celebration on campus had multiple cultural performances where dancers invited students and community members to join in the traditional dances.
Andy G
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Garcia | The Corsair
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Aztec dancer and leader of the performance, Xochipilli Medrano chants during a traditional performance in full feather cultural clothing during a Latinx Heritage Month event at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 17th. Aztec Dancer Araceli Contreras stands while Llanet Martínez, the dean of Santa Monica College gives a speech for the Latinx Heritage Month event on campus in Santa Monica Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 17th. Andy Garcia | The Corsair
Melissa Ochoa Garcia|The Corsair Carina Arias is a Aztec Dancer that attended the SMC Latine Heritage Month Kick-off event and who held hands with a student during a part of the show where various other dancer and students would dance together in a circle. Andy Garcia | The Corsair
SMC students celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the flavor of tradition On Thursday, Sept. 17, the sound of drums accompanying the Mexican flag reverberated across the Santa Monica College quad. In front of the flag, a group of people adorned with long black, white and colorful feathers on headbands, colorful clothing with beaded accessories on their ankles and wrists gathered in a circle. They are Azteca dancers, and what they wear is not a costume; it is attire that symbolizes nature, talks about their history, their roots and their journey. They were at SMC to show the community their culture as part of the opening ceremony of Latine Heritage Month organized by the Student Equity Center with help from the Latine Collective. The event featured Aztec dance, hair braiding, lunch and information resource tables. According to the Library of Congress, National Hispanic Heritage Month originated in 1968 when Congress established National Hispanic Heritage Week to honor Hispanic his-
tory and traditions. September was chosen because many Central American countries, as well as Mexico and Chile, celebrate their independence during the month. Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan continued the annual observance. In 1988, Congress expanded it from one week to the 31-day celebration observed today. Dr. Llanet Martín, Dean of The Equity, Pathways and Inclusion department, spoke at the opening event, pointing out that 40% of the college community identifies as Latine. She emphasized the responsibility the college holds in making the students feel valued through the creation of policies, practices, programs and relationships that help with their success. “Let the celebration remind us that belonging and mattering are things we build together. Let’s celebrate where we come from. Let’s honor the
people who helped us get here, and let’s celebrate the cultures, traditions, languages, and stories that make this community stronger. Let’s continue creating a college where every student can say ‘I’m seen, I am valued, I belong, and I matter,” Martín said. Students were able to experience the Aztec dance by Ritual Azteca de la Santisima Virgen de Los Remedios, some by participating in it and others by watching it. This is an ancient ritual from Mexico expressed through dance, in which movements are connected to deities and the cosmos, with the goal of honoring the sun and the earth. Their attire was made with nature-related materials such as feathers and accessories with shells, accompanied by instruments such as drums and maracas, which echo the sound of nature. READ THE FULL STORY AT THECORSAIRONLINE.COM
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Inside Addition
October 7, 2026
Gym For The Mind
Taking a deeper look into beloved mathematics professor Kristin Ross Amaya Chism | Arts Editor
On the second floor of Santa Monica College’s new Math & Science building, there’s a professor in the department who’s cultivating a safe space for her students one math equation at a time. Meet Professor Kristin Ross. She’s a graduate from California State University, Long Beach, and has been a math professor at SMC for 12 years. In college, Ross was originally a business major and ended up in math. Money was definitely on the brain for her and she found a lucrative way to make it. “I started tutoring, and I was making way more money than what I was making at Target. I wanted to acquire a liquor license and open up clubs,” Ross said. Math wasn’t a love at first sight subject for Ross but she found a way to provide help for those who needed it. Her business calculus class is where she met her clientele and they’d ask if she tutored Calc 1 or 2 and she told them yes, knowing she never took those classes before. As far as teaching goes, Ross described teaching college students as more on the difficult Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair side. She said, “It’s challengSanta Monica College (SMC) Mathematics Professor Kristin Ross helps her students with their assignments during class in the Math ing in the sense of one’s life exand Science building on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at SMC’s Main Campus in Santa Monica, Calif. Professor Ross is the first and only periences, so I strive to make Black woman professor in SMC’s Mathematics Department. An advocate for Black students and women, Ross describes math as a “gym for the brain,” where success comes from showing up and putting in the work my lessons culturally relevant.” By doing this, she could connect with her students regard- and it forces your brain to work a freshman, said Professor to pass, and she gives you a lot less of age or race. out in a way that you’re not Ross “does a really good job at of opportunities to come to her motivating you to do the work.” for support.” Yaritza Vazquez used to.” The only full-time Black womBoth students agreed that they is a freshman who also has an in the math department, her Three of Professor Ross’ stu- could see themselves pass- ADHD. She shared that Profesidentity aids in how she con- dents had a few words to share ing the class. Johnson also sor Ross “didn’t make her feel nects to her students. on their experience in the class shared that Ross “pushes us like anything” by needing acso far. Thomas Johnson, a to get through so she can see commodations and described Math to Ross is how her body sophomore, described Ross us win.” Aryeh said, “I think her the class as “user-friendly.” is treated at the gym. She said, and her class as “welcoming teaching style makes it difficult “Math is the gym for your mind, and very warm.” Ayden Aryeh, to fail. She offers the resources As a Black woman, connecting
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Santa Monica College (SMC) Mathematics Professor Kristin Ross helps her students with their assignments during class in the Math and Science building on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at SMC’s Main Campus in Santa Monica, Calif. Professor Ross is the first and only Black woman professor in SMC’s Mathematics Department. An advocate for Black students and women, Ross describes math as a “gym for the brain,” where success comes from showing up and putting in the work.
“Math is the gym for your mind, and it forces your brain to work out in a way that you’re not used to.” Kristin Ross
with her students from marginalized backgrounds provides a sense of community in the classroom. Ross shared, “On the first day of class I say, I am unapologetically very Black up in here.” She also described the role of professor as “a hat she wears” as she shows up as herself in the classroom.
authentically themselves too. Ross looks out for the women in her class as well. Since the STEM field can be majority male, she encourages the women in her class to be confident in their work.
“I create a space for the marginalized,” Ross said. “And I want the women to show up. I By being authentic with her stu- want them to teach.” dents in this way, she strives for her Black students to be Professor Ross shared that
she will be continuing her studies at UCLA this fall, pursuing her doctorate at UCLA’s Educational Leadership Program. She wants to get down to the bottom of why math course policies are so rigid in nature. “I’m ready to take on that challenge of answering the why, and where it comes from.” Her students give her the motivation, and now she’s deconstructing those policies one class at a time.
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October 7, 2026
“I think it’s a great way to connect to the community and other students at Santa Monica College” Brianna Velasco, Alpha Gamma Sigma
Ferris Kawar and Sustainability member Gabriel Batener transport collected trash to determine what can and cannot be recycled before being disposed of properly during the Santa Monica coastal cleanup .
Photos by Danny Sanchez | The Corsair
Clean Beaches Clear Skies: SMC Assists Coastal Cleanup
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Students and faculty from SMC work with Heal the Bay to clean Santa Monica beach
eal the Bay held its 42nd annual coastal cleanup day on Sept. 19 at Santa Monica Beach. Heal the Bay was first founded in 1985 to stop unsafe wastewater dumping from a sewage treatment plant into Santa Monica Beach and has tested for unclean waters since. While monthly beach cleanings have been ongoing for decades, Heal the Bay puts special focus on making their annual coastal cleanup day the biggest event.
Kawar said it is important for students to engage in cleanups because “learning to give back, and be part of your community means cleaning it up.” he said. “People come down here all summer long and use the beach, love it and enjoy it but then go home and don’t think about the impact it has.”
Bay Street Beach has historically been referred to as “Inkwell Beach” by the community. According to Kawar, due to its Jim Crow-era history, the beach was one of the few places AfFerris Kuwar, Director of Sus- rican Americans could access tainability at SMC, who led this without harassment. year’s event, said he’s been involved in organizing the coastal Gabe Babner, who has particicleanup for eleven years, each pated in beach cleanups since year instructing participants to high school and is a member of clean the coast and the impor- SMC’s Ecological Action Club, tance of engaging in environ- said he was very happy about mental justice. how the day panned out. “It was
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a great time, and we managed Alpha Sorority, Inc. has proudly to do something good for the served the Santa Monica, CA, environment along the way,” and surrounding communities. Babner said. Talking about students and SMC Alpha Gamma Sigma members who attended the members also participated in cleanup, Tau Tau Omega Chapthe cleanup. AGS is an honors ter president Myumi Nakamura society at California Community Coleston said, “They are the Colleges, founded in 1923, pro- future. If we don’t have a world moting scholarship, service to with healthy water and clean the community, and leadership. air, it’s not going to be good for Brianna Velasco of AGS said anyone.” she appreciated how community oriented the event was. “I According to the California think it’s a great way to connect Coastal Commission website, to the community and other stu- the annual event aims to “help dents at Santa Monica College,” protect people and wildlife by she said. eliminating plastic pollution before it can cause any more The Alpha Kappa Alpha So- harm.” Fish and birds consume rority, Tau Tau Omega chapter the trash, which prevents them also participated in this year’s from getting nutrients and inevent. According to its website, fects them with toxins, putting for over 33 years, the Tau Tau humans, who may consume Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa these animals, at risk as well.
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Miscellaneous trash of all kinds were collected at the coastal cleanup most of which were plastics that were unrecyclable in California due to California state law that only recycles three out of the seven kind plastics.
Members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority, Inc Tau Tau Omega Chapter (L-R) Lonnette Miller (Vice President), Mayumi Makamura Colston (President) and Kamili Allen (Co- chairman) participate in the Santa Monica coastal cleanup annually, as well as other community events, AKA Sorority is the oldest Greek letter organization established by African American college educated women.
(L-R) Santa Monica College student volunteer Alice Amorim and SMC Sustainability member Gabriel Batener weigh in incoming buckets filled with collected trash, Amorim recorded each individual bucket weight.
Written by Patrick LoBuglio and Diego Carrilo
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SPORTS
October 7, 2026
The Santa Monica College Corsairs Anthony Lopez (10) with one of the 16 shot attempts in the game. Lopez (10) did score a goal in the first half of the matchup. Corsairs defeated the Rio Hondo College Roadrunners 5-0 in men’s soccer on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at Corsair Field in Santa Monica, Calif.
Jason Purisima | The Corsair
SMC Dominates in 5-0 Win Against Rio Hondo Written by Adelfo Aguilera
The Corsairs dominate with a 5-0 victory over the Roadrunners.
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he Santa Monica College Corsairs men’s soccer team won 5-0 against Rio Hondo College on Tuesday Sept. 29, after dominating the Roadrunners in both halves. The Corsairs responded with a win after a 3-3 draw against Norco College. The Corsairs kept possession for the majority of the game, allowing no scoring opportunities for the Roadrunners. Going into the game, SMC head coach Tim Pierce talked about how other teams are beating them from direct actions rather than moving the ball. He also explained how his team prepared defensively, after conceding three goals in their previous match against Norco. “Dealing with ball on top of the back line, set pieces, cross ball situations, and it’s mainly coming off direct actions,” Pierce said. Both teams struggled to keep possession in the first half often with rushed passes. Around 30 minutes into the match, midfielder Angel Diaz received the ball around 40 yards from his opponent’s half. He passed by five defenders then passed it to forward Robert Mejia who slotted it into the bottom left corner giving The Corsairs a 1-0 lead. The Corsairs began connecting their passes which created multiple opportunities for their second goal. Two minutes later, Angel Diaz received the ball and crossed it to forward Miguel Cano, who scored giving the Corsairs a 2-0 lead.
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With two minutes left in the first half, midfielder Anthony Lopez intercepted a pass from the Roadrunners. He broke away from two defenders and scored in the bottom right to make it 3-0. Scoring the first goal gave the Corsairs the confidence in creating scoring opportunities. Coach Tim explains the Roadrunners were in a mid to low block and the first goal allowed the game to open up. “We got the first goal, it opened up a little bit. We got the second goal, then of course the game opened up because the other team is not just sitting there and accept being down a couple of goals,” Pierce said. The Corsairs kept possession of the ball, and created multiple scoring opportunities resulting in two goals in the second half. During the second half the Roadrunners picked up two yellow cards. Defender Demian Carrillo received a yellow after committing a late tackle. Two minutes later midfielder Joshua Martinez received one as well for preventing Midfielder Noah Johannes from going forward. Throughout the second half, the Corsairs held up on defense allowing only two scoring opportunities for the Roadrunners. Around minute 32, goalkeeper Diego Barillas Paredes made a save after defender Sebastian Vargas-Loyola tried to dribble past and the Roadrunners stole the ball.
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In the last 10 minutes of the second half the Corsairs found the back of the net twice. In minute 37, the Corsairs intercepted the ball in their own half, and went into a fast counter attack with midfielder Niko Martinez playing a through ball to forward Santiago Veizaga who then crossed the ball into the box for forward Zen Franco, who then scored the fourth goal. The fifth goal came in the last two minutes of the game. Corsairs’ forward Noah Johannes got the ball in the opponents box, he quickly turned and was 1v1 against the keeper, the keeper saved the shot but Johannes got the rebound and scored. With the referee deciding on no added time, the game ended with a 5-0 win for the Corsairs. Despite the 5-0 win, Coach Pierce said the team can still improve on certain things in their game. “I’m trying to enter to clear the ball, into their mindset. Just clear lines and get through the half,” Pierce said.
“ We were way more creative than last game and after losing the ball, we all rushed to get it back,” Defender Daniel Sozia
Jason Purisima | The Corsair The Santa Monica College Corsairs Robert Mejia (9) dribbling just passing midfield. Mejia (9) did score a goal in the first half of the matchup.
Jason Purisima | The Corsair The Santa Monica College Corsairs Noah Johannes (13) with chase down of the long ball. Johannes (13) scored a goal in the second half of the matchup. Jason Purisima | The Corsair The Santa Monica College Corsairs Noah Johannes (13) kicking the ball towards the goal.
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Corsairs Outshine Monarchs In 4-2 Win The Santa Monica College Corsairs defeated the Los Angeles Valley College Monarchs 4-2 on Friday. Written by Adrian Ibarra Photos by Tom Rosholt The Santa Monica College Corsairs won their game Friday, Sept. 25 against the Los Angeles Valley College Monarchs. After a three-game losing streak, the Corsairs controlled the field and created multiple scoring opportunities against the Monarchs. The Monarchs applied pressure on the ball, while the Corsairs maintained possession and kept the ball away from their own goal. The first goal was scored by the Corsairs in the 33rd minute by forward Amaya Marzola. “Find your moment and take a breath,” she said after the game when describing her goal. Before halftime, the Monarchs took a shot from just past center field that went toward the middle of the net. Though the initial shot was successfully blocked by SMC’s goalkeeper Micaela Becerra, the Monarchs scored on the rebound, tying the score at 1-1. At the start of the second half, the Monarchs scored within the opening minute, taking the ball down the field through an open gap in the SMC defense to take a 2-1 lead. The Corsairs tied the game after center midfielder Lidia Crespin took possession of the ball and passed it to defender Mikayla Mata, who shot the ball into the Monarchs goal, making the game at 2-2.
Santa Monica College Corsair Alexa Burr (6) high-fiving teammates during player introductions prior to the game with Valley Community College Monarchs on Friday, September 25.
Santa Monica College Corsair Amaya Marzola (24) celebrates with team after scoring a goal during the game with Valley Community College Monarchs.
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Santa Monica College Corsair Yaretzi Hernandez (11) kicks a goal during the game with Valley Community College Monarchs
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SPORTS
Santa Monica College Corsair Teresa Hernandez (5) fights for the ball with Valley Community College Monarchs Stephanie Araujo (11) during the game.
“It was hard, you know, coming back from losing,” St. Claire said. “I say we’re doing well and we just gotta keep it up.” Corsairs continued to maintain possession, limiting the Monarchs’ opportunities to advance the ball. With minutes remaining in the game, the Monarchs committed a foul against the Corsairs, giving SMC a free kick. From the far right corner, SMC’s defender Yaretzi Hernandez passed the ball to Ashton St. Claire, who shot the ball past the Monarch’s goalkeeper, giving the Corsairs a 3-2 lead. St. Claire credited her teammates with helping the team recover from its previous losses. The Monarchs then committed a foul on Hernandez, resulting in a penalty kick for the Corsairs. Center Midfielder Genesis Diaz took the penalty kick and scored, giving the Corsairs a two point lead and putting the final score at 4-2. SMC earned its second win of the season, and head coach Aaron Bendiston discussed the importance of the win for his team.
Santa Monica College Corsair Mikayla Mata (18) header for a goal during the game.
“We’ve been having a lot of mixed emotions and recently had to work a lot on our team identity,” Bendiston said. “To come back from a loss and score multiple goals in a game, there’s a lot of positives.”
Volume 129 | Issue 2
Lutz Lehman of Oak Park observes stars through one of Santa October 7, 2026 Minica College’s auxillary telescopes located on the roof of the SMC Planetarium while attending “Launch The Stars” a STEM fundraiser held on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. Gregory Hawthorne | The Corsair
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Volume 129 | Issue 2