Santa Barbara’s Abby Guillen holds off San Marcos’ Emily Allen while jostling for possession. (Presidio Sports Photo)
Santa Barbara High’s girls soccer team found the scoreboard three times in the first half, the last one standing up as the eventual game winner in a 3-2 Channel League victory over San Marcos on Thursday.
The result makes the first-place Dons 3-0 in league play. Both teams came into the match 2-0, making the Royals 2-1 with Buena next on their schedule. The Dons play Dos Pueblos. Both games are Tuesday.
“It was awesome,” said Dons forward Megan Flynn. “I mean, we came out and wanted to win this game so badly. SM is our rival. ?So we came out and it really showed on the field.”
Flynn scored Santa Barbara’s first goal and the game-winner. Jackie Lopez netted the second on an assist from Flynn.
After Santa Barbara took a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute, San Marcos’ Olivia Jones tied the game in the 17th minute and gave the Royals a 2-1 lead with her second goal of the game.
But Lopez, Flynn, and the Dons answered with two more goals before half.
Lopez tied the game in the 30th minute off a Hannah Brisby corner kick. Flynn used her head to continue Brisby’s kick on to Lopez who knocked it in with her foot.
The Dons scored on two corner kicks as Brisby assisted on Flynn’s first goal.
Flynn’s second came on a defensive misstep by the Royals. It came in the 40th minute and the two teams played a scoreless second half.
“We really capitalized on their mistakes,” Flynn said.
Royals head coach Macie Berlin saw the same miscues but was encouraged by the evenly played game.
“It wasn’t for lack of opportunity. It wasn’t for lack of effort,” Berlin said. “I certainly think we played well and I think Santa Barbara capitalized on our small mistakes. We had a couple wrong touches and they were goals.”
The Dons have beaten Buena and San Marcos this week to remain unbeaten in league.
“It’s been really fun. It’s been great,” Flynn said.
