After a frustrating first half on Tuesday night, SBCC poured in four goals in the last 45 minutes to defeat Hancock 4-1 in a WSC men’s soccer match at La Playa Stadium.
Santa Barbara improved to 6-7-1 and 5-3-1 in the WSC while Hancock fell to 1-12-2 and 1-8-1. The Vaqueros outshot their county rival 10-1 in the opening half but the teams were still tied 0-0.
SBCC is 4-1-1 in its last six games and has outscored the opponents 21-9.
Enrique Fernandez scored the first two goals of his college career in a two-minute span of the second half. Mehdi Badache was tripped in the penalty area by Hancock goalie Joel Diaz in the 55th minute. Fernandez, a freshman midfielder from Spain, drilled a penalty kick into the lower left corner, then scored two minutes later from 15 yards out on an assist from Albi Skendi.
“I dribbled around a defender and scored in the bottom right corner,” said Fernandez.
The Vaqueros were called for a hand ball in the box in the 61st minute and Oscar Munoz-Quintana converted the PK, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
Kebba Nyang and Fernandez both hit the crossbar in the 65th minute. Santa Barbara outshot the Bulldogs 28-7, including 10-2 in shots on goal.
Jonathan Mora was pulled down in the box in the 74th minute and Fernandez thought he had a hat trick when he made a penalty kick. But an SBCC player moved early and Fernandez’ second try skipped off the top of the crossbar.
“We had plenty of shots in the first half but they just wouldn’t go in,” said Mora, a former Santa Barbara High standout. “In the second half, we picked it up and finished some of our chances. When it was 2-1, we knew we had to score more goals.”
Simon Sebbah made it 3-1 in the 78th minute and Nyang scored on a rebound four minutes later. Mehdi Badache assisted on both goals.
“We told the guys to keep their heads and tidy things up a little and the goals will come,” said Sisterson, when asked about his halftime speech. “We had lots of chances and I thought we were the better team all night.”
SBCC will play the next three on the road, starting Friday with a 4 p.m. game at Canyons.
