Issue 01 Fall 2018

September 11,2018-Volume116-Santa Monica College-copy of The Corsair is 25 cents

FREE HAIRCUT MONDAYS AT SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Inside this issue : Santa Monica Student involved in Stabbing Pg.3 New Cafe Brings mexi-talian cuisine Pg.3

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NEWS CONTENT

Editorial Staff Editor in Chief………….Reed Curtis Managing Editor………..Pyper Witt Design Editor………….Casey Contreras News Editor………………Dakota CastetsDidier Culture Editor………….Casey Contreras Sports Editor…………….Dylan Cortez Opinion Editor…………Lauri Helin Photo Editor……………..Pyper Witt Digital Editor……………Nicole Washington Multi-Media Editor…….Blake Atwell Corsair Staff Reed Curtis ,Pyper Witt, Nicole Washington, Dakota Castets-Didier, Lauri Helin , Casey Contreras, Dylan Cortez, Austin Sebesta ,Blake Atwell, Cristian Vasquez, Will Dicke, Adriel Navarro, Veronica Huertero, Victor Ronderos, Rodney Campos,Chrissy Clark, Irving Santiago, Nicole Haun, Yasser Marte , Yasamin Jafari Tehrani , Ricardo Herrera , Jazz Boothby, Oskar Zinnemann, Muhammad Khokar, Bradley Elyghanian, Ana Duraes, Hugh Garbarini, Evan Minniti, Shayn Almeida, Melanie Delgado, Michelle Ayala, Earl Agustines A student runs back to his car after forgetting his school supplies on September 6, 2018 at the Santa Monica College Bundy Campus in Santa Monica, California.

(Zane Meyer-Thornton/Corsair Photo)

Faculty Advisors Journalism Advisor ……. Ashanti Blaze-Hopkins Photo Advisor……………. Gerard Burkhart

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR REED CURTIS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF As the 2018/19 school year at SMC begins, new students enter their first year of higher education as returning and emeritus students prepare to settle into another semester at the best community college in California. The new semester has brought many changes to the school, both from an institutional and an individual perspective. A new Board of Directors takes the helm of the Associated Students, an election for our school’s Board of Trustees is getting underway, and our paper’s latest editorial board is settling into their positions.

When I was originally selected to be the Editor in Chief of the Corsair, I was terrified. With only four members of our staff returning after last semester, I was concerned that we would be unable to keep up the exhaustive standards of quality that our paper has become known for. After two weeks of working with my new team, I am happy to say that my fears were completely misplaced.

Set to the backdrop of a fierce midterm election, this school year is all but guaranteed to be another whirlwind year of coverage for the Corsair, and with the team that I’ve selected I have absolutely no doubt about our ability to act as SMC’s premier source of news. Our position as a community service of SMC allows us an independence and freedom to cover what is necessary, as well as the connection to our community to figure out exactly what necessary is.

I believe in the importance of local news. I believe in the ability of our paper to act as a critical source of information for students on this campus. Student papers like our very own are the front line of local journalism, and act not only as a proving ground for up and coming reporters, but also as a key first step in the food chain of investigative journalism. It is vital now more than ever to provide an example of quality coverage on a local level to both serve our community and demonstrate the value and necessity of independent journalism.

The Fall 2018 staff of the Corsair contains some of the most talented and dedicated student journalists I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Within the first week of the semester, we already had students investigating several breaking stories and attending events all over Santa Monica. In this week’s print edition, we are presenting our coverage of a local student-involved stabbing, the opening of a new café in the Cayton center cafeteria, and a touching student written tribute to SMC’s recently deceased accompanying pianist Ron Snyder.

These pieces will be appearing alongside other stories taken from around campus, all of which are written by students currently enrolled in classes here at SMC.

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NEWS

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New Cafe In The Cafeteria Catherine Lima Contributing Writer Independently owned Corsair Cafe by Tortuga Bay opens its doors to Santa Monica College on Tuesday, September 4, 2018, in Santa Monica, Calif. Mario Perez, owner of Tortuga Bay says: “I did cater events here, and I saw the spot empty for so many years. I asked for it and, eventually, they put it on the market. I applied for it and I was the lucky guy between thirteen different people.”

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Perez came to the United States twenty years ago.

In 2008, he opened up Tortuga Bay, a Mexican restaurant next to the Forum in Inglewood, California.

At this new location, however, he has created a fusion of cultures he likes to call “Mexi-talian.” Perez says,“I want it to be Mexican, but there is no gas here so there's no way I can make Mexican food without gas. Everything is electric, so we have to modify the menu in order to serve something good.” Modifications of their menu include calling a torta (a sandwich made from bolio, a baguette-type bread in Mexican culture) a panini instead, and serving Lavazza coffee from Italy.

Back in the kitchen, Corsair Cafe employee Angel Venegas, heats up a panini on their electric panini grill in only 55 seconds, whereas a regular panini press takes seven minutes. Due to being on a college campus now, Perez mentions that they expect longer lines, so taking care of guests with this new technology is more convenient.

Out in the cafeteria, Patricia Rosales, a custodian at SMC for two and a half years, takes a break and waits for her Mocha and Breakfast Panini. “It's very delicious! I've already eaten two,” she says. Silvia Rosales, a 13-year custodian at SMC, joins P. Rosales for break and shares, “I've tried the turkey, pesto and provolone sandwich and it is delicious.” S. Rosales continues to add, “Right now they have a promotion. For one dollar more, aside from the sandwich, they give you whichever natural salad. The prices are great.”

Cristina Guritenco, a first year chemistry student at SMC waits for a tomato soup as she drinks a Vampiro juice (fresh-squeezed organic green apple, celery, parsley, cactus and pineapple) from Corsair Cafe. Guritenco says, “I really like that they have really good choices, like fresh ones. I prefer to eat, every single day, a different kind of soup.”

Corsair Cafe by Tortuga Bay owner Mario Perez (blue shirt) and his team pose in front of the newly opened cafe in the main campus cafeteria of Santa Monica College on Friday, September 7, 2018 in Santa Monica, California.

Angel Venegas, Estefany Valadez, Abraham Cruz, Ana Lozano, and Benito Martinez (left to right). (Photo by: Catherine Lima)

First year SMC student, Ada Soch, orders a pasta salad for the first time at Corsair Cafe.

Soch says, “I really like the experience. I like that they are really friendly and everything is all ready. It's quick and there is no line. They have a variety of options.”

Staff and students can visit the Corsair Cafe in the cafeteria of the SMC main campus. They are open from 7:00 a.m to 8:00 p.m on Mondays through Thursdays, and from 7:00 a.m to 3:00 pm on Fridays.

SMC Student Involved in Local Stabbing Dakota Castets-Didier

A.S. Discuss Gender Center, Vacancies

News Editor . It was around 3 a.m. on Friday, August 24th, when Santa Monica College students MilesO’Brien, Danech Kiya, and friend Oliver Konopek had a violent confrontation with a homeless man while awaiting their Uber ride home by Santa Monica City Hall.

O’Brien and company had been celebrating the end of their Summer vacation, having gone out for a night of drinking that eventually led them to Tongva Park.

As the group awaited their ride, a homeless man approached and began making aggressive comments to the group, before subsequently getting into a brief scuffle with Miles O’Brien, in which he stabbed O’Brien multiple times in the face with an improvised weapon made from a metal picture frame.

The students broke up the fight by pulling O’Brien away, who had multiple bleeding lacerations on his face, which would require stitches and will leave scars he will carry for the rest of his life.

As Student Danech Kiya recalled to the Santa Monica Daily Press, “We were all huddled in a circle and this guy started walking towards us. He looked fidgety and jumpy. He came up behind us and pushed us, saying, ‘This is my property, you have my stuff, you’re in my spot’ something like that, just screaming in our ears.” O’Brien also told the SMDP that he felt, “exceptionally threatened,” and openly admitted to striking the homeless man first, stating to SMDP, “I realized that just trying to avoid him and be non-confrontational wasn’t working and I had to defend myself, as he kept trying to mess with us.”

As the physical confrontation broke out, a nearby Santa Monica Parking Officer witnessed the melee, and arrested the homeless man later identified by the Santa Monica Police Department as 29-year-old Javon Patton, who was charged with assault with

a deadly weapon. Department officials released no details about Patton’s background, but did made it clear that O’Brien had thrown the first punch in the altercation.

As questions arose around the cause of the altercation between O’Brien and Patton, the students insisted that though they had been drinking that night, they were sober by the time of the fight, and that alcohol did not play a role. Regardless, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office decided to drop charges on Javon Patton, releasing a statement to the Corsair in which they stated, “… alleged victim [Miles O’Brien] admits to punching the suspect in the face before the suspect hit him with a picture frame, which was already in the suspect's hand…” going on to clarify, “… the suspect was arguably acting in self-defense and thus an unlawful assault cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Oliver Konopech, a former SMC student and witness to the stabbing explained that though he has been able to re-adjust to daily life since the confrontation, he has newfound concerns about his security in Santa Monica, stating “it still [sucks] to walk out at night, alone, or in general.” Danech Kiya, who was also on the scene, disagreed with the way Santa Monica Police and the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office dealt with the case, stating, “I don’t think the case was handled properly. All I’ve heard is that he was let go a while after what happened.” Kiya went on to explain that he felt Santa Monica’s homeless population needs to be “better controlled,” to prevent altercations like this from happening again in the future.

O’Brien, who was not able to be reached for comment, was released from the hospital the same day after receiving ten stitches for his injuries.

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Andrew Narvaez Staff Writer

Students were sprawled across the Cayton Center Lounge as President Isabel Rodriguez called to order the second A.S. Board of Directors meeting of the Fall semester on Monday, Sept. 10.

President Rodriguez reminded the board that she assigned Vice President Heshem Jarmakani and Director of Student Advocacy Alexa Benevente to the President’s task force.

The agenda was light, but the topics were substantive, one being a lecture series to fight against violence and the other on how to get students involved with selecting an official name for the Gender/ Equity Network Center.

Dr. Kathryn Jeffery, Santa Monica College Superintendent/President, created this task force to directly address any Gender/Equity Network Center Issues.

Benevente explained that she attended, an “Unofficial [Gender Center] meeting,” and a main roadblock was finding an appropriate name for the center.

Public comments opened the meeting with Flavio Medina-Martin, a Santa Monica College Human Resources Analyst, who conducts investigations focused on Title IX, which fights against sexual violence.

He announced a 6-part lecture series, the Beyond Sex Toolbox Series, which, “gives all the students tools and resources on these specific, very sensitive topics, that revolve around domestic violence, sexual assault, what is consent, what is not consent, what it means for women, what it means for men.”

The series will take place on different Thursdays throughout the fall semester beginning on Sept. 20.

The only scheduled discussion item was for the Gender/Equity Network Center.

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She expressed that the name has brought about controversy and student involvement on deciding the name is imperative. She asked the board to brainstorm name ideas to bring to the task force.

Jarmakani proposed, “because this is going to be a prominent facility on campus, what if we reach out to SMC and possibly have a vote on the Corsair” similar to the way SMC students vote for AS elections.

He explained that this was a way to ensure that no student could not claim ignorance and continue to engender continued controversy.

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NEWS PHOTOSTORY

SMC Cosmetology Department Presents: Free Haircuts!

Shayn Almeida Staff Writer The mood is bright and most everyone is smiling. This isn't your typical hair salon. Located in the Business Building, a unique air of artistry permeates out from room 149 of Santa Monica College's Cosmetology Department.

For students 'in the know', this sweet little secret of 'Free Haircuts' comes as one of the many perks to being part of the SMC student body.

For the next twelve weeks, every Monday morning from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., any SMC student can simply walk into the salon and get a haircut for free or get any of the special esthetician services at an incredible discount.

Very few students actually know about ”Free Haircut Mondays," and here's the thing: this isn't some random guy cutting free-form tribal patterns in your hair or jacking up your bangs - these students are all semi-pro.

The only stylists or full-fledged cosmetologists who are allowed to cut people’s hair have been vetted through the program for well over a year. Most notably, all of them were clearly pleased to be there - fully present, engaged, clearly perfecting and honing their chosen craft.

Everyone I talked to seemed to have different reasons for being in the program, and most of these reasons were as different as their personalities and individual hairstyles.

Alex Schulze, 22, said she was there mainly to do make-up, in fact, it was all she originally wanted to do.

However, more than anything, she was really happy about all the new friends she had made in this class saying it was as if they were all a little family.

Carley Chandler, 20, explained that she just “really liked hair” and knows that she "can make really good money doing it.”

Cruz Rodrigues, a 25-year-old in his second year of the Cosmetology program, said, "I'm really impressed with how patient, knowledgeable, and caring all of the instructors had been," throughout his studies. Cruz told me that both the flexibility of the program and the family ‘community’ feeling of the classes were definitely what he enjoyed most about the program and that he would recommend it to anyone considering a career in cosmetology.

The Cosmetology Department also offers services such as facials, manicures, pedicures, and other specialty treatments which are available at a discounted price for all students with a valid Santa Monica College ID. Professor Rick Harrison, who helps to run the program, stated that many of his former SMC students have gone on to become employees and have been hired directly into managing positions at successful businesses such as Floyd's Barbershop and other high-end Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Los Angeles salons.

Whatever style or fresh new look you're going for, there's someone in the Cosmetology program who can style you up.

Professor Rick Harrison cuts one of the Santa Monica College Students who came in for one of the Cosmetology departments free hair cut Monday at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, Calif. September 10 2018. (Irving Santiago/Corsair Photo)

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Student mannequin heads in locker at one of the Cosmetology departments free hair cut Monday at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, Calif. September 10 2018. (Irving Santiago/Corsair Photo)

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PHOTOSTORY NEWS

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Mannequin Head cut by a student on display at one of the Cosmetology departments free hair cut Monday at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, Calif. September 10 2018. (Irving Santiago/Corsair Photo)

Alex Schulze a student of the Cosmetology Department practices cutting at one of the Cosmetology departments free hair cut Monday at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, Calif. September 10 2018. (Irving Santiago/Corsair Photo)

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VOLUME 116 ISSUE 01 •September11, 2018 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

NEWS CULTURE

SMC fashion brings the campus to life

Caption: SMC freshman Emma Carlson sports a poppin’ pink suit. (Jacob Victorica/Corsair Photo)

“People want to be remembered,” freshman Christian Hendric said when asked about SMC fashion. (Jacob Victorica/Corsair Photo)

Blake Atwell Multi-Media Editor Diversity, pop culture, and fashion. Take a few steps onto any one of the five campuses at Santa Monica College (SMC), and you’ll witness these three characteristics in students every few feet. Eclectic and traditional tastes come together across campuses to highlight SMC's proud cultural diversity, embracing the artistic pursuit of self-expression through fashion. Through clothes, colors, and cuts, the unifying language of fashion represents the ever changing faces of SMC. Emma Carlson, an SMC freshman, uses fashion to express herself and to curate her social interactions. “I always use how I dress as a way to make friends but also keep people distant,” Carlson said. She collects most of her fashion items from her workplace– Goodwill–and added, “I’m wearing a bright pink suit, not a lot of people are going to come up and approach me.” Freshman Christian Hendric found his identity through fashion. Hendric, originally from Northern California, said, “you can definitely tell who the foreign exchange students are by what they wear or even the way they walk, compared to American students who wear less brand names and dress more summery.”

SMC Hosts Coastal Cleanup Casey Contreras Culture Editor Grab some sunscreen, a hat, a few friends, and a water bottle and head down to the beach this weekend Saturday, September 15, and join the Coastal Cleanup Day effort!

SMC students and staff will gather together on Pico and Bay Street in Santa Monica from 9 a.m to 12 p.m. to help clean up our beach. Free parking and water will be available for those attending the event.

This will be SMC’s sixth year contributing with the California Coastal Conservancy Agency, which hosts about eight thousand volunteers world wide in an effort to clear out waterways from pollution. This year the organization, The Story Of Stuff, dedicates itself to bringing awareness to over consumerism and the effects it has on

our planet. “Most of the plastic that has ever been made is still in existence today, and most of it is in the ocean,” says Life Science Department Chair Alexandra Tower, emphasizing the importance of keeping our oceans clean and stop adding additional waste to the already existing problem.

Tower also highly encourages the attendance of not just friends, but family members both big and small. “I always get the question can I bring my family, can I bring my children,” says Tower, and the answer is yes! Anyone is welcome to attend though children require parental consent to participate.

Due to the beach's historic identity as a gathering place for the local African Amer-

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ican community, the Black Surfers Alliance will be present to help with the cleanup. The location was once one of the only places in the area that minorities were able to surf and swim without discrimination, which earned it the moniker "the Inkwell" among Santa Monica locals.

The Surfers Alliance will also commemorate the life of Nick Gabaldón, once a student of SMC, with free surf lessons.

SMC's Adelante and Black Collegians programs are also loosely involved with this event and members will be able to receive credit for their attendance.

The Eco-Action, Plastic Free SMC, and the Bike Club will be present and participating, not only to bring awareness to the exist@THE_CORSAIR •

ing pollution in our oceans, but to bring awareness of many other environmental crises.

"I think it’s an eye-opener, for example smoking is not allowed on the beach, yet the number one item they will find are cigarette butts,” says Tower and encourages anyone to attend and be part of the global movement and have some fun.

Whether you are an environmentalist, someone who needs community service hours, or you just plain love the ocean and want to help conserve it, Costal Clean Up day will be the place to go this weekend.

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OPINION NEWS

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Ron Snyder – Making Moons Real One Student at a Time Gavriella Wiseman Contributing Writer

We never know how much time we have. Let’s face it, the truth is, most of us run aroundliving like we have infinite tomorrows – as if there is no question of any of us not existing.

We forget we are mortal. It’s easy to forget.

I recently learned from my voice teacher that SMC accompanist, Mr. Ron Snyder, passedaway from cancer this summer. From what I understand, he only found out about his cancer a month before; it all happened very fast.

I first met Ron in the fall of 2017, while taking Music 50A – he was the accompanist for Dr.DeStefano’s class. When I learned that each student was allowed five minutes of weeklyrehearsal time with Mr. Snyder, my initial thought was, “Wow, this guy must have animmense amount of patience and dedication.” It soon became apparent that Ron really cared about the students – each student.

Not since did he become frustrated with me or my remedial abilities – he was always patient and understanding. Never did I see him tire of, or neglect anyone, in or outside of class.

Always kind, he worked well with Dr. DeStefano to bring out the best in everystudent, every performance, and was a truly skilled musician. There was a reason everyone in the music department referred to him as a great jazz pianist.

I performed one of my own songs in public for the first time that semester. After I learnedhow to write the piano accompaniment, Ron was the first person, aside from myself, to play it.

As the semester was wrapping up, I was fervently preparing for my Applied Music Progra audition. Week after week, Ron helped me practice “Paper Moon,” suggesting a repetitionhere, an alternative note there. One day, while meeting with Dr. DeStefano about my pieces, Ron kindly agreed to play for the duration of my audition, despite the fact that he normally only served as accompaniment to jazz repertoire.

I didn’t get into the Applied Program that semester. Our next class was the final. Ron played my song. Afterwards, I stayed to thank him.

“Absolutely! Did you get in?” to which I responded “No.” “What?!” He looked at me in surprise and disbelief.

I smiled – because deep down, I knew we both knew I wasn’t ready for the program at that time. “No – not this time – but I’m going to try again. Next semester.”

Ron spent the next few minutes after class encouraging me not to give up; to keep trying.

He recounted being rejected from a program once when he was in college, but workedhard, tried again, and gained acceptance. He advised me not to be discouraged – and I told him I wouldn’t.

The next semester (spring 2018), I saw Ron occasionally in passing. He always asked how FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE VISIT US AT THECORSAIRONLINE.COM •

I was, as I did, in return. He always had a smile in his eyes, even on days you could tell he was in pain.

Then came my audition in June. I was unbelievably nervous. Somehow, I was surprised to see Ron when I walked into my scheduled practice session, before the audition.

“Hey!” He smiled. “How are you?”

“I’m great! And you?”

And then we got down to business, running through Caccini’s “Amarilli” and George and Ira Gershwins’ “They All Laughed.”

“You’ve made a lot of improvement,” he told me.

I thanked him for all of his help. He played beautifully during my audition.

His mastery of improvisation was showcased in “They All Laughed” – this became apparent right away, as I’d practiced to the written accompaniment, and once Ron began to play I had absolutely no idea what collection of notes to expect next from him. So I just kept singing, and he just kept playing.

I skipped to my car. I had a good feeling. Days later, my 50B final was about to begin when Ron emerged from the classroom, as students filed out from the previous class.

“Did you get in?” he asked.

“I got in!”

“Congratulations! I knew it – I’m so happy for you!” He smiled wide.

And with another smile and a wave, I watched him turn and limp down the hall.

At first, I didn’t understand why I was so deeply affected by the loss of someone I hardly knew. But I think I do now. Did I know him well? No. But then maybe relationships aren’t about numbers. Maybe time isn’t the only thing that has the ability to leave a truly lasting mark on someone’s life.

To me, life is like music. It is one song that each of us is a part of for a short while, and we have no say in how long or short our part in it will be. In the end, all that matters is what we did do; how we did touch people’s hearts and souls, and nothing else. That’s what makes it so beautiful.

I thought of Ron as I lit the candles for Shabbat. And I know I will think of him every time I hear “Paper Moon” or “They All Laughed.”

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VOLUME 116 ISSUE 01 •September11, 2018 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

NEWS SPORTS

Women’s Soccer Off To An Amazing Start Ana Duares Peixoto Staff Writer Returning as Western State Conference champions for the first time in history with an impressive 15 wins, three losses and two ties. The Corsairs' goal is to push to even higher levels and uphold the program’s high personal, academic, and competitive standards. The Corsairs went on to play Southern California Regional round one playoffs but were eliminated after a 1-1 tie in regular time which led to a 3-2 loss in penalty kicks which was a devastating end to the season.

With the regular 2018 season underway, The Corsairs have managed to defeat their first four opponents: Oxnard College, Long Beach City College, El Camino College and MiraCosta College with a successful average of 5.25 goals per game. When asked about the teams preparation to take on Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) Head Coach Aaron Benditson says “If we want to obtain what Santa Barbara has obtained, getting into a state championship, making deep runs into the playoffs, we are gonna run into these types of teams. How do we react against them, how can we shape up against them? I just want us to be as confident and ready as we can be for the opportunity to play against them.”

Their only loss came yesterday against the state runner-ups, SBCC, who won 2-1. The SBCC Vaqueros finished their past season undefeated and imposed a great challenge to the Corsairs. “It’s about progressing everyday. I always tell the girls we are gonna test ourselves against the best in the state because that will

give us a sense of really where we are at."

Despite a tough loss yesterday, the Corsairs are still off to a great start. The Corsairs' current top scorers are midfielders Antoinette Saldana and Filippa Struxsjo with seven and six goals respectively. “We have a lot of talented players, especially our sophomores” said Benditson, referring to who to look out for, “number six, Antoinette Saldana our center midfielder, she is one of our top players."

"We have a great international player, Filippa Struxsjo (midfielder no. 17) from Sweden. I am also very excited about our new freshman Ceirra Little (forward no. seven), she is super explosive, a dynamic runner with and without the ball, she is very exciting to watch," said Benditson.

He went on to say, "and last but not least I would say a newcomer that has come in and is gonna make an impact right away is Daily Ramos (midfielder no. 13), those are just a couple that really are sticking out and have already shown their quality on the field.”

Twelve new freshmen join the ten sophomores; adding novelty and power combined with the strong leadership skills required at higher level.

The team is trusted to be committed, competitive and seeking to improve from last season’s struggles and success. That is to find balance within a quick two-year rotational system after top players such as Daisy Serrano, Josseline Espinoza and goalie Emma Romero have moved on with their academic careers.

Number six Sopmore Antoinette Saldana crosses ball across field at MiraCosta College in Oceanside, Calif. September 7 2018 (Samantha Morales/ Corsair photo)

2018 Men's Soccer Preview & Early Season Recap Blake Atwell Multi-media Editor After a 14-4-5 season in 2017, the Santa Monica College Men’s Soccer team is off to an impressive 5-1 start in 2018. Coach of seven years Tim Pierce said they have a good group and they’re used to winning some games from last year. Sophomore captains Cesar Oliva, Ruben Soria and Narciso Cervantes bring valuable experience and an infusion of young talent. With Coach Pierce at the helm, SMC has high expectations for the rest of the season.

Cervantes, a redshirt sophomore who earned team MVP two seasons ago is one of the team’s most dominant midfielders despite missing the 2017 season due to a concussion. Redshirt freshman Aydin Kose (goalkeeper) and Eto Atiabet (forward) have starred in each of the first five games ending in shutout victories over Bakersfield, El Camino, Palomar, MiraCosta, and a 5-1 triumph against Antelope Valley.

Kose hasn’t allowed a single goal yet this season, and Atiabet is first on the team with six scores.

Originally from Sakarya, Turkey, Kose has started all of SMC’s first five games and compiled 13 saves over 395 minutes. He was recommended to Pierce by a former Corsair soccer player, also from Turkey.

Atiabet has come a long way from this time one year ago, when he was trying to earn a spot on the soccer team via physical education classes at SMC. Pierce didn’t see a strong enough focus in Atiabet as a student athlete at first. The local Hamilton High School alum refocused, and was turning heads come last spring.

“He’s an incredible athlete – we always knew that – but it was a matter of getting him refocused and having him commit himself to the group,” Pierce said. Since joining the team, Atiabet has done nothing but produce results. He leads the team with six goals, good for 13 points.

The team’s first match, a home game against Bakersfield College, featured goals from freshman Jaylen Erhahon (10th minute) and sophomore Cyrille Njomo (40th minute). Kose saved all five shots-ongoal.

The Corsairs traveled to El Camino College for their first road test of the season and prevailed 2-0 for the second straight game. Sophomore Yoel Cohavy scored in the eighth minute and Atiabet followed with a goal in the 58th. SMC attempted nine shotson-goal to El Camino’s two. Each team was called for one offsides penalty. El Camino gained the edge in saves (7-2) but lost the corner kick battle, 10-2.

SMC kept the road trip going over the weekend with two games in San Diego. Another Corsair soccer match meant another shutout, as Kose saved four more goals in 80 total minutes of action to seal a 4-0 victory against Palomar. Cervantes kicked off scoring for SMC with a goal in the 28th minute, via a Juan Torres assist. Cohavy picked up two assists, one to Njomo in the 52nd minute and another to Atiabet in the 73rd. Atiabet wasted no time to score again, netting a goal moments after in the 75th minute.

MiraCosta College gave SMC their toughest test of the season thus far, but the Corsairs found a way to emerge victorious for the fourth game in a row.

Atiabet scored in the 85th minute to give SMC a 1-0 win. MiraCosta gained in advantage in shotson-goal (5-0), saves (7-2) and corner kicks (2-0), but couldn’t translate any of it to goals.

In the 80th minute of Tuesday’s (9/11/18) matchup with Antelope Valley, freshman goalie Kevin Negrete gave up SMC’s first goal of the season. Kose held another shutout in 45 minutes of action, however, and Atiabet scored two goals to seal a 5-1 Corsair victory.

Chaffey visits SMC Friday (9/14/18) for the Corsairs’ second of three straight home games. Despite the hot start, Pierce is focused on keeping the Cor-

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Number seven Sopmore Narciso Cervantes fights off two MiraCosta players at MiraCosta College in Oceanside, Calif. September 7 2018 (Samantha Morales/ Corsair photo)

sairs grounded. “Just because you’re not conceding goals doesn’t mean you’re playing perfect soccer,” Pierce said. He added, “We need to constantly improve, get better and keep assessing ourselves.”

The rest of SMC’s 2018 schedule, after this week’s matchups, include seven home games and eight road games. Western State Conference play kicks off in October for SMC, on the road against LA Mission on Tuesday, 10/11/18.

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