Hancock Women’s Soccer Team Falls in Conference Opener to Santa Barbara

Sports at Hancock College have been a wild ride lately—some highs, some lows, and a whole lot of action. The women’s soccer team just faced a tough match against Santa Barbara and took a hard loss.

On the men’s side, Hancock managed a draw with Glendale, which isn’t too shabby. Meanwhile, local golf fans are buzzing about the Saints Golf Classic and the Howard Shaw Memorial California Blind, Adaptive, and Disabled Winter Golf Classic.

Hancock Women’s Soccer Team Faces a Tough Opponent

The Hancock women’s soccer team kicked off their Western State Conference North Division play against Santa Barbara, and it wasn’t pretty. Santa Barbara came out swinging, putting away three goals in the first 18 minutes.

AJ Diaz gave the Bulldogs a glimmer of hope with a goal at the 35:02 mark. Still, Santa Barbara wrapped things up with a commanding 5-1 win.

Zoe Minnery led the Vaqueros with two goals and an assist, while Carolina Esparza chipped in two assists. Cassidy Rosenthal controlled the midfield and helped anchor a defense that really shut Hancock down.

Santa Barbara bumped their record up to 6-4-0. Hancock now sits at 1-4-5.

Key Moments of the Match

The first half basically sealed Hancock’s fate, with Santa Barbara up 4-1 at the break. The Vaqueros kept up the pressure and never let Hancock back in.

Hancock only managed three shots on goal. That says a lot about Santa Barbara’s defense.

• Early Goals: Santa Barbara knocked in three goals in the first 18 minutes.
• AJ Diaz’s Goal: Hancock’s only goal came just past the 35-minute mark.
• Defensive Strategy: Santa Barbara’s back line limited Hancock to three shots on goal.

Hancock Men’s Soccer Team Salvages a Draw

The Hancock men’s soccer team pulled off a 1-1 draw in a non-conference game with Glendale. Glendale struck first with a goal in the opening half.

Ronnie Ayala answered back for Hancock in the 13th minute of the second half. Both teams had their chances—Glendale fired off 17 shots, while Hancock managed eight.

Goalkeepers really stepped up. Max Brewster made eight saves for Hancock, and Hayk Tovmasyan stopped five for Glendale.

After this one, Hancock’s record is 3-3-4. Glendale’s now at 3-1-4.

Match Highlights

The match was tight all the way through. Here’s what stood out:

• First-Half Goal: Glendale got on the board early.
• Ayala’s Equalizer: Ronnie Ayala tied it up in the second half.
• Goalkeeper Performances: Both keepers made some clutch saves.

Upcoming Golf Tournaments

Golfers around town are gearing up for two big events: the 13th annual Saints Golf Classic and the Howard Shaw Memorial California Blind, Adaptive, and Disabled Winter Golf Classic. These tournaments give players a chance to show off and raise money for good causes.

Saints Golf Classic

Set for October 11 at the Santa Maria Country Club, the Saints Golf Classic should be a good time. The entry fee is $125 per player, and that covers greens fees, range balls, a golf cart, lunch, and some on-course contests.

• Entry Fee: $125 per player
• Inclusions: Greens fees, range balls, golf cart, lunch ticket, goodie bag, and on-course contests
• Format: Four-person scramble
• Check-In Time: 12:30 p.m.
• Shotgun Start: 1:30 p.m.

If you want more info, reach out to Jay Cheney at 805-878-2296 or email him at [email protected].

Howard Shaw Memorial California Blind, Adaptive, and Disabled Winter Golf Classic

Mark your calendar for January 26, 2026. The Sandpiper Golf Course in Santa Barbara will host this unique event, which supports Cottage Hospital, Sansum Clinic, Santa Barbara medical workers, and adaptive sports programs.

The entry fee sits at $325 per player. That covers your green fees, golf cart, driving range access, lunch, dinner, awards, and a few extra perks.

• Entry Fee: $325 per player
• Inclusions: Green fees, golf cart, driving range access, lunch, dinner, awards, and more
• Beneficiaries: Cottage Hospital, Sansum Clinic, Santa Barbara medical workers, and adaptive sports programs

Here’s how the day looks: