Santa Barbara overcame fatigue and a penalty kick in the first three minutes by scoring three unanswered goals for a 3-1 win over visiting Arroyo Grande in a non-league boys soccer match at Peabody Stadium on Tuesday.
The Eagles converted the PK after a handball was called against the Dons in the penalty area.
Santa Barbara stepped up its offensive pressure and scored the equalizer in the 25th minute on a penalty kick. Jumoke Hutton was taken down in the box and Alec Larson stepped up and converted the spot kick for a 1-1 tie.
Jelan Hutton gave the Dons a 2-1 lead in the 57th minute, heading in a cross from Matt Medina. Hutton, a center back, was in the box on a corner kick. The ball was cleared out to Medina, who crossed it back in to Hutton for the goal.
Jonathan Mora finished a small cross from Rufino Sanchez for the third goal in the 78th minute.
Santa Barbara coach Todd Heil said the game was a struggle for his team, which was coming off a weekend of four games at the San Marcos Invitational.
“I’m sure we were physically tired, but we looked mentally tired from the weekend,” he said. “But, we found a way to win, which is a credit to the boys.”
The Dons, who were ranked No. 10 in this week’s CIF-SS Division 1 poll, improve to 6-1.
