The Santa Barbara girls soccer team kept Buena from winning its third Channel League game on Monday and in the process kept themselves in first place.
The Dons left Ventura with a 1-1 draw, giving the Dons eight points in league to the Bulldogs’ seven. Buena has won the league title 16 years running.
Briana Lopez, who has scored all but three of Santa Barbara’s goals this season, gave the Dons a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute.
The Bulldogs responded three minutes later on a header off a free kick.
Santa Barbara head coach Brian Lloyd said both teams had quality chances to score in the second half to no avail.
Lopez almost collected her second goal of the match, hitting the inside of the goalpost.
“We thought it had already gone in,” said Lloyd, only to see the ball bounce back across the goal’s mouth. “We thought we had the win there for a little bit.”
Lloyd was appreciative of the stalwart defense from his backline of Kai Miller, Kirsten Jurich, Brittany Couture and Ceci Alvarez.
Tuesday’s game with San Marcos has already been postponed in anticipation of rain with a makeup date still to be determined.
