It was homecoming for the Carpinteria boys soccer team and the Warriors celebrated by winning a share of the Tri-Valley League championship with a 3-0 win over Oak Park.
Carpinteria had been on the road for its last six games, and it needed only two minutes to make the home fans happy, as Ismael Soriano scored on a rebound of a shot by Cameron Wagner.
“I told (the players) before the game that it was a big match and they needed to come out and leave it on the field, and they did that,” Carpinteria coach Danny Torres said.
The Warriors kept the pressure on the Eagles and forced an own goal in the 39th minute for a 2-0 lead. Genaro Hurtado hit a cross and a miscommunication between the centerback and the goalkeeper led to the goal. The center back kicked the ball over the keeper’s head.
Carpinteria made it 3-0 just before halftime on another rebound goal. Adam Ughoc scored after Sergio Ortega ripped a shot that slammed off the goalpost and hit the goalkeeper in the back. Ughoc pounced on the ball before the goalkeeper could recover and put it away.
“We were following our shots, which we practiced this week,” said Torres. “It makes me happy as a coach because they’re doing what they’re supposed to do.”
Torres said his players were pumped up to get back on their home field again. They’ll finish the regular season Monday and Wednesday at home against Malibu and Santa Paula.
“They’re very focused for the last games of league,” Torres said. “We want to get on a good roll. If we stay focused, we can do something important here for the next couple of weeks.”
Torres praised the play of sophomore right fullback Alexis Martinez.
“He’s played real well. He’s doing a phenomenal job. He’s doing the right things to be on the field.”
