After nearly two weeks without playing a game, Carpinteria High’s boys soccer team was anxious to get after it against another team.
The other team on Tuesday was Dos Pueblos, and the Warriors went after the Chargers with zeal in the first half, scoring two goals in the first 23 minutes en route to a 3-1 nonleague victory at Carpinteria Valley Memorial Stadium.
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It was Carpinteria’s first match since a 4-3 victory over Santa Ynez back on Dec. 22. Tuesday’s win improved the Warriors’ record to 7-1-2.
Behind the energy and fight of Cameron Wagner and the cool, crafty play of Eduardo Contreras, Carpinteria dominated the midfield in the first 40 minutes and controlled a quality Dos Pueblos squad.
Wagner helped set up the Warriors’ first goal in the fourth minute by winning a head ball in the middle of the field. Contreras ended up with the ball and he threaded a pass through the DP defense to forward Juan Alaniz, who was making a diagonal run into the penalty area. Alaniz buried his shot for a 1-0 lead.
A well-timed run by Tony Alvarez on a ball delivered by Hector Delgado resulted in the second goal. Delgado put his diagonal pass just out of the reach of DP goalkeeper Eric Katz and at the feet of Alvarez, who dribbled around Katz and scored into an open net at the 22nd minute
“We set the tone early.” Carpinteria coach Daniel Torres said. “I told the guys before the game that if wanted to win tonight against a quality team we needed to start off well and they responded with the goal early. It shows that these guys have a lot of heart and discipline and they listen. They listen to what they’re supposed to do on the field.”
Carpinteria’s fast start impressed DP coach Tovi Eliasen.
“Carp came out just blazing and they were strong right from the start,” he said.
Dos Pueblos managed to create a couple of scoring chances in the 10th minute. Rodrigo Perez hit a low cross pass to Eduardo Cortez at the near post, but Cortez’s shot was stopped by Carpinteria goalkeeper Erik Rojas. A few seconds later Danny Rowell delivered a pin-point crossing ball to Jonathon Cruz that was headed over the cross bar.
Eliasen said his team has had a problem with slow starts to matches and he’s yet to find an answer to solve it.
“It’s very difficult to put a finger on it,” he said. “We have a very talented team, a great group of guys. It just happens that sometimes we come out flat. But I was happy the way they adjusted, came out and made it a game and really got into it in the second half.”
The Chargers (6-4-4) played with more gusto in the second half and cut the score in half in the 50th minute on a goal by Rowell. He hustled for a loose ball down the right side and beat Carpinteria’s Rojas with a hard low shot inside the far post in the 68th minute.
“He’s a great player,” Eliasen said. “He’s a very physical player and when he’s on he’s extremely dangerous going forward. He throws himself in the game quite well. He’s someone who really has a good sense of the moment and can sense that our team is down a little bit. He was looking to give us a psark and he did. That goal was great because he just wanted the ball more than anyone else on that play.
“It helped us believe we could get back into the match.”
But Carpinteria (7-1-2) would foil DP’s comeback with its steady play. Three minutes after giving up a goal, the Warriors answered back. Tony Alvarez got behind the Charger defense and crossed the ball to Edwin Elizarras at the far post. Elizarras fired a shot on goal that was blocked and Wagner raced in and pounded in the rebound for a 3-1 lead.
“We knew DP would come out firing and they did and they got a goal,” Torres said. “But I thought my guys responded well right after that.”
Wagner’s goal was a just reward for his high work rate throughout the match.
“This was only his second start on the the varsity,” Torres said of the sophomore midfielder. “He was excited. He was especially good for us tonight. He put a lot of pressure on their defense. He got a goal at the end because of his work for 80 minutes; it paid off. I’m happy for his goal.”
The Warriors almost scored a fourth goal after Alvarez ran on to a through ball from Contreras and was fouled in the penalty area. But Contreras’ penalty kick was blocked by Katz.
It was gratifying win for the Warriors, who earlier this season played Buena, another Channel League team, to a 3-3 tie.
“For these guys to beat Dos Pueblos and get a tie against Buena early in the year, it shows that these guys can play against anyone in the state and in the country,” said Torres. “I’ll put my money on them against anyone. These guys have proved it to me throughout the season. They can play against anyone that faces them.”
