Duran Stanley redirected a free kick by Jordan Tabor into the goal in the 83rd minute on Saturday, sparking SBCC to a 2-1 victory over L.A. Harbor in the opening round of the Southern Cal Regional men’s soccer playoffs at Westmont College.
The Seahawks (7-8-7) had tied the game four minutes earlier on a goal by Justin Coleman.
Tabor, a sophomore from England, gave the third-seeded Vaqueros (16-1-4) a 1-0 lead in the last minute of the first half. He boomed a 50-yard free kick with his left foot into the left side of the net.
“We were watching the goalie in practice and thought his hands weren’t the best and he didn’t have much of a jump,” said Tabor. “I thought if we put it on him, then something might happen. Lucky enough, it went straight in.”
It was the seventh straight win for SBCC, which is 13-0-1 in its last 14.
Goalie Yonha Adrabi came up with a couple of big saves to preserve the victory.
“It was a little bit scrappy,” said SBCC coach John Sisterson. “The surface didn’t suit us. It’s a grass field (they normally play on artificial turf) and the ball was bobbling about.
“I’m pleased to get through with a win. Duran worked hard to get that free kick and Jordan served a great ball in (for the winning goal).”
Things got a little chippy in the closing minutes with several yellow cards and two red cards. SBCC forward Rodrigo Perez received a red card and will have to sit out the second-round game.
Santa Barbara will host No. 6 Rio Hondo or No. 11 Santa Ana on Tuesday.
