Chijioke Aranotu scored on a header in the 38th minute Friday night and SBCC survived an onslaught of second-half shots to blank Chaffey 1-0 in a nonconference men’s soccer match at La Playa Stadium.
It was the first shutout of the season for the Vaqueros (2-2), whose defense had allowed eight goals in the first three games.
Chaffey (2-2-1) outshot the Vaqueros 22-6 and dominated the second half, 14-2. The Panthers took the first nine shots of the final 45 minutes and Santa Barbara didn’t have an attempt for the first 33 minutes after intermission.
“We’ve been working on our defensive shape and I think out match fitness is improving,” said sophomore Juan Sanchez, who anchored the defense in the middle. “We all stuck to our tasks and it feels good to grind one out and get our first clean sheet.”
The shots on goal were much closer with Chaffey holding a 5-4 edge.
Justin Saul set up Aranotu’s score with a crisp pass from the right side, near the end line. Aranotu was unmarked in front of the left post.
“JJ (Saul) took on a couple of players and made a great cross,“ said Aranotu. “I was coming to the far post and that’s a play we work on in practice a lot.”
SBCC goalie Ismael Guzman made five saves, including three in the second half.
“We had to win today to send out a message,” said coach John Sisterson. “We changed our shape and didn’t concede any space in the center of the field. They outshot us but a lot of those shots were from long range.”
Sisterson cited the defensive effort of Sanchez, Dan Flitcroft and Adam Colton.
SBCC opens defense of its WSC title on Tuesday when it takes on Hancock in a 7 p.m. game at Santa Maria High.
