San Marcos’ Sean Estabrooks and Santa Barbara High’s Landon Mullen go toe-to-toe in Saturday’s match.
Santa Barbara High couldn’t be happier after its 3-0 victory over San Marcos on Saturday. Not only did they beat their rival, but the Dons clinched outright their first league championship since 2011.
“It feels so good to win a Channel League championship,” said Pepe Barron, who scored his team-leading 19th goal of the season in the first half. “Especially in my senior year; especially at San Marcos on their nice turf field. It feels amazing; it feels great. I haven’t felt this good in a while to be honest with you.”
Barron played a big role in the clincher, scoring the game’s first goal within five minutes of the opening whistle and creating for Kyle Marcotte on the second.
Santa Barbara High head coach Todd Heil was happy for Barron and the other seniors on the team.
“(Pepe) understands what it means to play here and he understands what it means to be a Don,” said Santa Barbara High head coach Todd Heil.
On the second goal, Barron drew three defenders away from the middle and delivered the ball back towards the goal mouth where Marcotte pounced and knocked in the score.
“We call it framing the goal, where a shot’s played in and we press. If there is going to be a putback, we want to be sure we’re on top of it,” Heil said.
The opportunistic Dons took advantage of the situation again on their third goal.
Near the end, with San Marcos pressed forward seeking a goal, Abraham Sierra finished the scoring by converting a long pass from Peter Ruiz. Sierra received the pass before the midfield line but had nothing but open field ahead. Sierra timed it well to lift it over the hard-charging keeper and into the goal.
It was Sierra’s third score in the past two games.
The Royals have yet to win a league game but have two chances remaining and are finally seeing their roster on the field all at once.
“We are hoping to have – for the first time this season including preseason – we’re hoping to have our full team back for DP on Monday.”
The Dons, ranked No. 7 in Division 1, will learn their playoff fate next Monday. Their final regular season game is Tuesday at Buena.
