The Dos Pueblos girls soccer team continued its impressive season after earning their 13th win against cross-town rivals Santa Barbara High on Thursday.
The two attacking-minded teams scored a total of seven goals in a hard fought match played on the turf field at Girsh Park. Dos Pueblos scored the majority of the goals with a final scoreline of 5-2 in the Chargers’ favor.
“I thought Santa Barbara was a good team but we controlled the game most of the time and the girls did a great job,” said Dos Pueblos head coach Jose Guerrero.
Guerrero attributed the victory to the impressive play from the Chargers’ midfielders and forwards as Dos Pueblos improves to 13-3-0 and remains undefeated in the Channel League (2-0).
Junior forward Brandie Harris found the net early with a header in the fourth minute. Harris was open on the back post and was able to redirect a crossed ball off the crossbar and into the net. The goal was nearly saved by Dons goalkeeper Angela Biancone with a last-second effort on the goal line, but the ball found its way in.
Dos Pueblos’ second goal was scored by senior midfielder Claire Mathews with a powerful shot from the top of the box in the 23rd minute. Mathews’ shot beat a diving Biancone and was the Chargers last goal of the half.
The game opened up in the second half with goals coming from both sides.
Early in the second half the Dons scored their first goal with Katie Joseph heading in a corner kick from Krista Jimenez.
“I thought Katie Joseph’s header gave us some life, Krista Jimenez assisted with a nice corner kick,” said Santa Barbara head coach Brian Lloyd.
The Dons fought hard until Harris put the game out of reach with her second goal of the match. Harris ran onto a through ball played by Mathews and finished the breakaway with a placed shot into the side netting of the Santa Barbara goal.
Erin Ristig also earned a brace by scoring twice late in the game.
In the 74th minute, Ristig had a one-on-one with the Dons goalkeeper. Biancone blocked Ristig’s initial shot but the Charger forward was able to score on the rebound. Ristig’s second goal was a shot from outside the box in the 82nd minute.
“Between Brandie and Erin they have a total of 26 goals, that helps a lot,” said a praising Guerrero.
The Dons were able to get a consolation goal in the 75th minute as Krista Jimenez hit a shot from the top of the box that deflected off a Dos Pueblos defender and passed a disoriented Anna Rudeen into the Chargers’ goal.
“We got behind early, we knew they were going to be a tough team and we just weren’t up for it today. I feel like we played with a lot of heart but we need to bring our intensity up,” said Lloyd.
Santa Barbara fell to 1-7-3 and 1-2 in Channel League play.
