A perfectly executed play on a free kick enabled San Marcos to score a goal in the 77th minute, and the Royals escaped Ventura with a 1-1 draw in a Channel League boys soccer match on Tuesday.
The result puts the Royals (7-5-6, 3-1-2, 11 points) two points behind first-place Santa Barbara (4-0-1, 13 points) going into Thursday’s crosstown match at Warkentin Stadium.
“This makes the game on Thursday much more exciting,” said San Marcos assistant Jesus Landeros.
Down 1-0, the Royals’ Kevin Shaw hit a free kick from deep in his end of the field. Robbie Landeros flicked the ball to the top of the Ventura 18-yard box, where Ian Dahill chested it down, turned on the ball and ripped a shot just under the cross bar to tie the score.
“It was a great goal,” said coach Landeros.
Landeros praised the play of goalkeeper Justin Vom Steeg, the back line of Ricky Lopez, Shaw, Rodrigo Garcia and Chris Leon, and midfielders Tanner Charest and Robbie Landeros.
