This article was originally posted in y!Sports on May 21, 2024 by Joe Curley of Ventura County Star.
https://sports.yahoo.com/overflow-crowd-showed-ventura-county-173216980.html

The warm glow of the Sunday sunset lit the sight in which Mark Noorzai — and the Apple TV cameras — basked.

The main stands at Cal Lutheran University’s Rolland Stadium brimming with fans to watch Ventura County FC’s home debut in Thousand Oaks.

“It wasn’t real until I saw it,” said Noorzai, Ventura County FC co-president. “Then it was just happiness.”

The MLS Next Pro team, formerly known as LA Galaxy II, is the newest of a rare entry in the county’s sports scene, an actual professional team.

So many local fans arrived to taste test the new product that team officials were prompted to adjust their pregame plans and open the smaller stands on the west end of the stadium.

“Ventura showed out,” smiled soccer legend Cobi Jones, the former Westlake High and Galaxy star who serves as VCFC’s general manager and co-president.

The team responded to its new surroundings by delivering a 2-0 win over Real Monarchs, the reserve team of MLS club Real Salt Lake, to retake first place in MLS Next Pro’s Western Conference standings.

“I’m truly happy to be here and play in front of this crowd, in front of my county, my community,” said Sergio Villalpando, the 18-year-old former Hueneme High student who came on as a second-half substitute.

“I don’t have words to explain this moment. It’s truly special for me. Growing up, I always wanted to play in front of my community. This is a great opportunity to do so.”

Ventura County’s first goal within the county borders came from an Isaiah Parente corner kick in the 28th minute. The in-swinging, right-footed delivery deflected off the head off a Real Monarchs player and into the next for an own goal.

Right back Harbor Miller doubled the lead in the 55th minute, when his low cross from the right found its way into the Real Monarchs net.

“The players responded,” Noorzai said. “The players put on a show.”

The win moved Ventura County (5-2-2) into first place with 19 points from nine matches, above North Texas on goal difference.

Sixteen-year-old Thousand Oaks High sophomore Tristan Godinez took in his first professional soccer match as part of the overflow crowd in the west standings.

“It’s beautiful,” said Godinez.

Godinez, who munched on a cheeseburger and fries from one of the food trucks behind the stadium, plays volleyball at Thousand Oaks but considers himself a soccer fan.

“I love it,” Godinez said. “It’s a lot of passion, a lot of heart. … This means a lot to everybody.”

Godinez was asked if he planned on returning for another taste of Ventura County FC.

“To watch another game here?” Godinez asked. “Of course.”

That, of course, is the question going forward.

As Noorzai shook the hands of fans after the game, he reminded them “Be at the next game, OK?”

Ventura County visits Vancouver Whitecaps 2 on Sunday. Its next home match is May 31, when the Tacoma Defiance visit.

“They got their team now,” Noorzai said of the fans who packed Rolland Stadium. “So many dreams were created today. And it’s in their back yard. They don’t’ have to drive two, three hours home. It’s right here.”

Noorzai, who lives in the Santa Rosa Valley, and Villalpando, who grew up in Oxnard, echoed each other.

“I would have loved to have this growing up,” Villalpando said. “There’s truly a fan base here. … This isn’t a one-game thing. This will be throughout the whole season.

“I hope people continue to come out and support. Just know that we’ll give it our all. We’re here to win. We’re here to give people a great time.”

Joe Curley covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage, follow @vcscurley on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Overflow crowd showed up for Ventura County FC’s first match at home