Santa Barbara got goals from three different players and then had to hold off a furious Ventura rally to escape with a 4-3 win in the Channel League girls soccer opener on Tuesday.
The Dons led 2-0 at halftime and went ahead 3-0. Megan Flynn scored in the 15th minute off an assist from Hanna Gately. Jackie Lopez fed Katie Joseff for the second goal in the 28th minute.
Danielle Smith made it 3-0 off an Annie deBruynkops assist in the 59th minute.
“Then we had a complete mental lapse,” Santa Barbara coach Jeff Johnson said. “We got complacent and the next thing you know the score was 3-2.”
Joseff scored on a penalty kick to make it 4-2 in the 73rd minute before Ventura capitalized on a defensive error and tallied another goal.
Johnson said that despite the defensive breakdowns it was good to start league play with a win.
“For 80 percent of the game, our defensive shape was fantastic and our ability to get on the ball and keep it was very good,” Johnson said. “We have to learn from this win what we need to do to finish off teams more efficiently.”
Santa Barbara improves to 7-1-3 on the season.
