MSoc: SBCC lets Citrus off hook, falls 2-1

Richard Caine - SBCC Men's Soccer

Richard Caine holds his head in disbelief after missing an attempt at the goal. (Photo Wade the Giant)

SBCC couldn?t find the net in the first half on Friday and had trouble getting a shot in the second half of a 2-1 WSC men?s soccer loss to Citrus at La Playa Stadium.

The Vaqueros (4-4, 4-2) fell out of first place in the Western State Conference. Citrus improved to 3-6 and 2-3.

?It was disappointing,? said coach John Sisterson. ?We created opportunities in the first half that we didn?t finish. We told the boys that if we let them off the hook, they could go sneak a goal in and that?s what happened.

?We made two mistakes and we?re down 2-0 when we could have had four in the first half.?

The Vaqueros outshot the visitors 8-3 in the first half, then got outshot 7-3 in the last 45 minutes.

Grayson Iwasaki gave the Owls a 1-0 lead in the 56th minute when he shot between two defenders and chipped the ball over the head of Logan Deeney, who made his first start in goal for the Vaqueros.

In the 70th minute, Shusake Kajiwara made it 2-0 on an assist from Daniel Ortiz.

The Vaqueros got on the board in the 86th minute when Omar Montalvo made a long, high pass to Jamie Sporcic, who beat the keeper from 20 yards. SBCC almost got the equalizer a minute later when Sporcic crossed a ball to Richard Caine, but his header was a few inches wide left.

?They outworked us and the quality wasn?t there,? said Sisterson. ?We?re better than that. The boys have to look at themselves and decide if they want to play with some pride.?

Santa Barbara will host Santa Monica on Tuesday at 2 p.m. game.

Citrus' Shusuke Kajiwara scores against Santa Barbara's Logan Deeney.(Photo Wade the Giant)

Shusuke Kajiwara scores against Santa Barbara’s Logan Deeney.(Photo Wade the Giant)