Santa Barbara High created several scoring chances but finished only one in its home opener against a feisty Santa Ynez. That one finish enabled the Dons to come away with a 1-1 draw on Tuesday night at Peabody Stadium.
Santa Barbara took 28 shots in the match, including 17 in the second half.
“Yeah, it’s definitely frustrating. I thought we created a lot,” Santa Barbara coach Todd Heil said. “I thought we did a really good job creating and getting ourselves in front of the goal to create those opportunities.”
After giving up an early goal to the Pirates’ Noah Blacker, the Dons attacked with a vengeance. They fired quality shots at the goal but were continually denied by Santa Ynez goalkeeper Nathaniel Beamer.
“Our goalkeeper was fantastic,” said Santa Ynez coach Alex Uribe.
Beamer continued his stellar play early in the second half. In the 50th minute, he dived to his left to stop a drive by Peter Ruiz.
Santa Barbara finally broke through in the 56th minute. Pepe Barron took a short throw-in and bolted toward the goal on the left side of the field. He laid the ball back for an onrushing Brandon Sanchez, who slotted it past Christiansen to knot the score at 1-1.
The Dons continued to apply pressure and create chances. In the 67th minute, Barron just missed wide on a free kick from 20 yards. On another free kick into the box, Tanner Mees beautifully chest trapped the ball for Barron, who popped his shot over the crossbar.
Seconds later, Brandon Sanchez and Barron executed a beautiful give and go but Sanchez’s shot glanced off the post.
“I guarantee you he hits that 9 times out of 10,” Heil said. “Unfortunately, he doesn’t get the game winner right there. “
The chances kept coming for the Dons, but Santa Ynez (2-2-1) held on to get a positive result before its Los Padres League opener on Thursday against Lompoc.
Santa Barbara goes back on the road, playing at the South Torrance Holiday Tournament.
