Avery Schwartz scored on a free kick in the last three minutes to help Cate earn a 1-1 draw at unbeaten Santa Ynez in a non-league boys soccer clash between two of the top teams in the county on Friday night.
Cate, playing without playmaking midfielder Ema Boateng, who suffered an eye injury in Thursday’s match against Carpinteria, couldn’t generate much offense against the fired-up Pirates.
Goalkeeper Blake Wands kept the game scoreless with a pair of big saves off point-blank shots.
Santa Ynez (9-0-3) standout forward Alex Uribe got one past Wands in the 38th minute for a 1-0 lead.
Cate (4-1-1) stepped up its play in the second half, but the Rams couldn’t score until Schwartz was taken down just outside the top of the box.
On the resulting free kick, Schwartz knocked the ball off the inside of the upper right post to even the score.
The match was a good test for the defending Division 7 champs. Coach Dave Mochel cited the play of freshmen defensemen Patrick Thomas and Iman Fadghassemi, as well as midfielders Matthew Firestone, Leighton Brillo Sonnino, Justin Kim, and Tyler Douglas.
Cate will open Condor League play when they host Thacher on Wednesday
