By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com

Napa Valley College went into Tuesday's Bay Valley Conference women's soccer opener with just 11 players, as the Storm was missing Ariel Nunez, a freshman goal keeper. Nunez was out due to a concussion that she suffered near the end of a practice on Monday.

"Unfortunately, we've had injuries, and it put us up against a big disadvantage in terms of losing a fantastic goalkeeper," said Storm coach Mark Corbett. "We're pretty limited in terms of being able to make changes."

Areli Ramirez-Ruiz, sophomore defender, took over at goal keeper for the Storm.

Napa Valley responded to an early score on a penalty kick by Solano Community College-Fairfield, playing a very solid first half, giving a great effort to stay in the game despite limited numbers and injuries.

"We were pleased with the start. I think after giving up the PK, we responded well. I thought it was pretty even," said Corbett. "It's unfortunate with the lack of depth that we have."

Due to injuries during the game, Napa Valley was down to nine players at times, and the host Storm lost, 6-0. NVC's athletic trainers, Brandon Lucas and Traci Oyama, helped players off the field and treated them on the sidelines for injuries that they sustained.

"If someone goes down and we have 10, they still continue to try and get out there and compete against a team," said Corbett. "They're a fighting group. If they weren't, they wouldn't continue to keep showing up.

"We compete in 11v11 very well."

It was a 1-0 game at halftime. Solano (1-5-1 overall, 1-0 Bay Valley) scored five goals in the second half.

Ella Gervasoni opened the scoring, connecting on a penalty kick for Solano, early in the first half.

Kate-Lynn Jimenez scored three straight goals, a hat trick, for Solano.

Gabby Gonzalez scored the fifth goal for Solano.

The sixth and final goal came from Gervasoni.

Napa Valley (1-3 overall, 0-1 BVC) had several shots on goal, including one by Melina Shaline-Solis, a freshman forward.

"It's frustrating. The girls are staying committed and coming out. I'll be right alongside them, doing everything I can to try and prepare and recover," said Corbett.

CCCSIA Women's Soccer Poll

Four Northern California teams are in the California Community College Sports Information Association Women's Soccer Poll, announced on Sept. 26, in a report by the California Community College Athletic Association, at www.cccaasports.org.

Folsom Lake leads the way, tied at No. 6.

Others are No. 8 San Joaquin Delta-Stockton; tied for No. 13, Foothill-Los Altos Hills; No. 16 Cosumnes River-Sacramento.

Those listed as others include Skyline-San Bruno, Canada-Redwood City, Merced, Sierra-Rocklin, Chabot-Hayward.

* Marty James is a freelance writer who makes his home in Napa. He retired on June 4, 2019 after spending 40 years as a sports writer, sports editor and executive sports editor for the Napa Valley Register, a daily newspaper in Napa County. He is a 1979 graduate of Sacramento State and a member of the California Golf Writers & Broadcasters Association. He was inducted into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in 2016, the Vintage High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019, and the Napa High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.