Santa Barbara maintained pace with Ventura on Tuesday by claiming a 4-1 victory over San Marcos at Peabody Stadium.
Tuesday’s result means another victory on Thursday for Santa Barbara would cause a split of the Channel League title between the Dons and the Cougars. Ventura defeated Dos Pueblos 3-0 on Tuesday and finishes with a 7-1-0 record. The Dons are 6-1-0 and travel to Dos Pueblos on Thursday for their regular season finale.
San Marcos will finish its season on Thursday against Buena.
“I think the better team won tonight, hands down,” said Royals head coach Matt Winecki.
San Marcos was the first team on the scoreboard. Robbie Landeros finished a free kick that came to him on a bounce in the penalty area.
That happened in the first minute of play and it took even less time for Santa Barbara to answer.
Matt Medina scored Santa Barbara’s first goal 30 seconds later. Medina then took a corner kick that Jason Ildefonso redirected into the net for a 2-1 lead.
Jelan Hutton scored the first of his two goals before halftime on a free kick. Hutton’s second came on a throw-in that went into the net after being touched by the San Marcos keeper.
Tuesday’s game was slightly closer than the 5-0 result Santa Barbara won at San Marcos three weeks ago.
“I don’t think we played well at all,” said Dons head coach Todd Heil.
Heil’s Dons have won seven of their last eight matches. Their only loss in 2013 is to Ventura.
Thurday’s regular season finale at Dos Pueblos starts at 5 p.m.
