A year ago, Alyssa McDonald watched from the bench as the Ventura College women's soccer team's playoff run came to an abrupt end.

This season, McDonald extended the Pirates postseason.

McDonald scored in the 103th minute as the Ventura College women's soccer team won twice in a postseason for the first time in its 14-year history with a 4-3 extra-time win over visiting Santa Monica College in the Southern California regional semifinals Tuesday night at the VC Sportsplex.

"We made history at Ventura College this year," McDonald, said, "We made it past the second round and we're going to go all the way this year."

After Ventura College missed two golden scoring opportunities midway through the first period of extra time, McDonald, who missed the 2008 postseason with a broken foot, took a pass just inside the penalty area, turned her defender around and slid a powerful low strike just beyond the grasp of the Santa Monica goalkeeper.

No. 2 Ventura will host No. 3 San Bernardino Valley, which beat No. 6 Los Angeles Pierce 1-0, Saturday in a Southern California regional semifinal.

(reporting from Danny Page)

It's getting exciting at the VC Sportsplex. Xochitil Salgado equalized in the 59th minute for Santa Monica College, but Strozier restored the lead for the Ventura College women's soccer team, 3-2, three minutes later.

The Pirates continued to dominate play in the opening of the second half as Santa Monica didn't see a scoring opportunity until a corner kick in the 59th minute.

But that's all it took.

Santa Monica sophomore Salgado's near-perfect corner kick swerved untouched past Pirate goalie Aslyn Rau and evened the game at 2-2.

Again Strozier came to the rescue with a superb individual effort. Strozier fought off two defenders 20 yards from goal and curved the ball around McElroy, off the crossbar, and into the net to put the Pirates back in front, 3-2.

It was a world-class goal for the state's leading scorer.

(Danny Page reporting from Ventura)

Danny Page e-mails in from the Fusion bus, which is currently northbound.

"We've just set off from the Crowne Plaza for the long haul to Fresno
for tonights showdown between Fusion and the FuegoN kickoff at 7PM.

The bus is buzzing with talk of Brazil's game with South Africa and
the United States win over Spain.

But of more immediate importance is last nights result from the PDL
Southwest Division; Los Angeles Legends beat Orange County Blue Star,
2-1, to move to the top of the table with Hollywood United.
Nonetheless, a win tonight will move Fusion into sole possesion of
first place and leave their souther rivals LA and Hollywood a point
behind.

Broadcast at 7 p.m. live on HomeFieldSports.com

- DP"

Oxnard College men's soccer coach Ross Greaney breaks down Friday night's All-Oxnard CIF final between top-seed Channel Islands and Rio Mesa at Pacifica High, as interviewed on Ventura County Sportsnight Thursday with Danny Page.

Here's the full HomefieldSports.com broadcast of the Ventura College men's basketball team's 88-76 win at Santa Barbara City Wednesday night, featuring play-by-play extraordinaire Danny Page:

And the postgame interview with Ventura center Will Faiivae:

Here's coach Ned Mircetic's interview with HomefieldSport.com's Danny Page after the Ventura College women's basketball team's 57-46 season-opening win over El Camino College Tuesday night.

I'll be making a guest appearance on the premiere of the "VC Football Hour" on KTVA 1520 AM today from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

I'm scheduled to join Danny Page and Ryan Miller of Home Field Sports, who will be previewing the Pirates' season with Ventura College coach Jon Mack.

Home Field Sports is set to broadcast a local prep Game of the Week each Friday and VC each Saturday this fall on 1520 AM.