After dominating play for 89 minutes, it looked like SBCC was headed for a tie with El Camino-Compton Center in its men’s soccer home opener on Tuesday at La Playa Stadium.
Jonathan Mora, a sophomore midfielder from Santa Barbara High, had other ideas. After a Compton defender headed out a corner kick, Mora blasted a 24-yard shot into the right side to give the Vaqueros a 1-0 victory.
SBCC, ranked No. 13 in the nation, improves to 3-0 with its second straight shutout.
“We had to get it done, I got that one opportunity and I took it,” said Mora after scoring his first goal of the year. “It was frustrating because we were getting so many opportunities. We got the win and that’s all that matters.
“They were playing ‘Park the Bus’ the whole game with only one forward and everyone else playing defense. We had to push a bunch of midfielders forward. It didn’t look pretty but at the end, you have to score the goal you need.”
The Vaqueros outshot the visitors 17-3, including 10-2 in the second half. Santa Barbara had eight shots on-goal compared to one for the Tartars (0-3). The corner kicks were also lopsided with SBCC enjoying a 10-3 advantage.
“They just dropped off and sat back and that made it difficult to find a winner,” said coach John Sisterson.
“We told them to go forward, have a go and be brave. We were a little too choosy but fortunately, Jonathan got the message, took a touch and drove it home.
Sisterson said his two centerbacks, Johan Mauritzson and Haydn Dickinson, played well, as did Daniel Gail and Carlos Archila Calderson. “Carlos has so much talent and flair, we have to get him on the ball going forward more,” Sisterson added. “And Nicolas Genthon always does a good job. He works for the whole 90 minutes.”
The Vaqueros will play their next three at home, starting with a Friday game vs. Palomar at 2 p.m.
