SYLMAR — Mark Knight poured in four second-half goals Friday afternoon to spark the first-place SBCC men’s soccer team to a 6-1 victory over L.A. Mission. It was the fifth straight win and seventh in eight games for the Vaqueros (12-4, 7-1), who lead second-place Oxnard by eight points in the Western State Conference race.
“It was just one of those games where your chances go in,” said Knight, after taking over the state lead in goals (18) and boosting his point total to 43, one shy of the state lead. “It all came together.”
After giving up an own goal, Antonio Bernabe scored twice in eight minutes for the 13th-ranked Vaqueros on assists from Paulo Friere and Danny Molineaux.
Knight, an Englishman who led all California scorers last year with 28 goals and 61 points, extended the 2-1 halftime lead with a goal in the 62nd minute after a through ball from Molineaux. He added three more scores in the 73rd, 75th and 81st minutes on assists from Craig Davies, Stuart Kirk and Luke Chambers.
Knight, who hadn’t scored more than two goals in a game this year, found the net four times in 19 minutes.
“The boys really turned it on and played well after going down a goal,” said Vaquero coach John Sisterson. “Antonio was playing great when he got a knock and had to leave. Javier Garcia also played well.”
SBCC outscored Mission (2-5-6, 1-2-4) by a 14-2 count in two victories this year.
The Vaqueros, who’ve outscored their last three opponents 15-2, open a five-game homestand on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. with a key match against Oxnard.