The Moorpark College women's soccer team (8-1-1) kicks off the defense of its WSC North title at home this afternoon against its budding rival, Santa Barbara City (5-0-4), which is ranked No. 6 nationally by the coaches' association.

The two teams combined to play 180 scoreless minutes in WSC North play last year, part of the Raiders 14-hour shutout streak, before the Vaqueros prevailed 3-0 in the Southern California regional playoffs.

"My girls will fight from the first to the last minute," said coach Eric Privat. "The whole season has been like this I'm very proud of them.

"(Santa Barbara) is very confident. They play hard, and whatever happens happens.

"So far, the cards have been falling pretty right for us."

Today's opening day of WSC soccer play:

Community College men's soccer
Western State Conference: At 4 p.m.: Oxnard at Citrus; At TBA: Moorpark at College of the Canyons.

Community College women's soccer
WSC North: At 2 p.m.: Santa Barbara City at Moorpark; At 4 p.m.: Oxnard at Hancock, West Los Angeles at Ventura.