It didn’t come easy for the Santa Barbara boys soccer team on Tuesday, but head coach Todd Heil will always take the three points from a 2-0 Channel League victory over San Marcos, no matter how they come.
“In these games, a win is a win. It doesn’t matter if it’s 2-0, 1-0,” said Heil, whose Dons – ranked No. 1 in Division II – improve to an intimidating 18-1-1 on the season. “Records, they’re out the window. It’s a rivalry and a win is a win.”
The Royals managed to stop Santa Barbara’s relentless attack more often that not, but slipped up early in the first half and allowed an own goal. Jesse Gonzalez scored from 18 yards out off a rebound in the second half to give the Dons all they needed.
It was Gonzalez’s 10th goal of the season, tying him with Peter Aguilar for the team’s lead.
Keeper Emmanual Angulo and Santa Barbara’s defense kept another opponent from scoring, posting their 15th shutout of the season.
“It was all the team tonight. Our offense is scoring a lot and our defense is really strong,” credited Angulo, noting how big the win was. “It’s everything right now because we’re first place in league and we just beat our rival by shutting them out, it feels good.”
Santa Barbara’s even play from front to back is not lost on Heil.
“Our chemistry this year has won us games. The guys get along so well, they work so hard together, so well together, it’s been absolutely enjoyable this year,” he said. “Tonight could be something along the lines of where chemistry won us this one tonight. It was just guys coming together and grinding out a win against your rival.”
As if facing the division’s No. 1 ranked team wasn’t enough, San Marcos suffered a bad break when one of its best players, Alvaro Garcia, had teeth knocked out in the first half and did not return.
What the Royals lacked in skill, though, they made up for in determination.
“I think we did a good job, obviously I’m disappointed, I want to win coming away against No. 1 in CIF,” said San Marcos keeper Efren Guttierez, a team captain. “But I think we shut them up. I think they don’t know what hit them to tell you the truth. They’re a really good team, obviously a lot better quality than we have but I’m proud of the guys.
“We got back up and kept fighting.”
The Royals (6-8-4, 0-2-1) continue a tough week’s schedule with a Thursday home game vs. Ventura, the division’s No. 3 team that tied Santa Barbara 3-3 last week.
Santa Barbara, meanwhile, has another rivalry game on Thursday against Dos Pueblos.
