It’s a shame CIF doesn’t recognize moral victories.
Dos Pueblos became only the third team to hold Santa Barbara scoreless this season, but couldn’t score themselves in a must-win situation, drawing with the Dons 0-0 in its final game of the season.
“Tonight, everyone wanted this game. Everyone knew the consequences if we didn’t win,” said DP’s senior co-captain Gustavo Hernandez, whose Chargers wrap up their campaign with a 6-14-2, 1-5-2 record.
Santa Barbara – No. 2 in Div. II – has a make-up game to play on Wednesday at San Marcos but is already assured of the second seed from the Channel League behind No. 1 Ventura.
The Dons (21-2-2, 4-1-2) controlled play and were the more dangerous side throughout, but had their best opportunity just two minutes in. Justin Jimenez’s strike was thwarted by DP’s other captain, keeper Tony Mendoza.
“That save that he made was great. And without him, that could have been the goal for them,” credited Hernandez, a central defender who was locked up in a battle with Dons forward and leading goal-scorer Peter Aguilar for much of the night.
Santa Barbara head coach Todd Heil thought his team looked a little rusty after not being able to train last week because of the rain.
“We were definitely out of sync and I don’t think we really got that great of looks,” said Heil, who is dealing with injuries heading into playoffs.
While not having to work nearly as hard, Santa Barbara’s defense recorded its 17th shutout of the season and should be an asset for the Dons in the playoffs.
“That’s what you ask of your defense, to keep us in games or to keep us ahead and I think they’re doing a great job,” raved Heil. “Seventeen shutouts on the year is absolutely fantastic.”
“That was our goal today was to try to sneak into playoffs there but it was the other results earlier in the season that made this one not as sweet as it should be,” said DP head coach Tovi Eliasen, finishing up his first year at the helm. “In the two games that we’ve seen them, it was a 2-1 loss at our place and 0-0 here. I mean, those are things we can hold our head high on.
“Am I happy with it? I’d say so.”
With playoff seedings set, Wednesday’s rivalry game between Santa Barbara and San Marcos takes on little more than pride.
