The Citrus College men’s soccer team lost to Santa Barbara College 3-0 on Friday Sept. 7 at home.
The Fighting Owls tested the Vaqueros goalie with nine shots, two of which were on goal.
In the first minute of the game Citrus midfielder, Imer Figueroa, hit a shot that smacked off the goal post and failed to reach the back of the net.
Freshman midfielder Bryan Figueroa said Citrus dominated the first half. Citrus started the game with good ball movement but failed to capitalize.
“Ten minutes into the game, we had plenty of scoring opportunities but didn’t make them,” Figueroa said.
When the Owls made a forward pass the Vaqueros would double team them midfield, preventing them from advancing the ball.
The first half ended in a 0-0 standstill.
Santa Barbara scored in the 52nd minute when Ameyawu Muntari put the ball in the back of the net 1-0.
Muntari tapped the ball in after Vaqueros’ Joel Ramirez Vega shot an unsuccessful free kick from 25 yards out.
“In the second half when they scored that goal, it kind of messed with the guys a little bit because we were doing so well,” Eddie Flores, Owls assistant coach said.
Citrus returned an offensive attack. Forward Israel Gonzales hit a strike that went off the post in the 53rd minute. The score remained 1-0 in favor of the Vaqueros.
Santa Barbara midfielder Adrian Gamez scored a volley in the 65th minute, making the score 2-0.
Gamez scored another goal in the 72nd minute when he dribbled the ball across the Owls’ 18-yard box and banged the ball into the back of the net.
Citrus trailed 3-0 with 20 minutes in the game. The gap was too large to close.
Citrus College Head Coach Fred Bruce-Oliver made two offensive substitutions in a final effort to create scoring opportunities. Citrus first-year Reymundo Orrosquieta fought till the end and blasted a shot toward the goal in the 78th minute. He missed wide left.
Bruce-Oliver said he wants his players to gain experience from these matches, so when league starts they will be prepared in tough situations.
“I hope they don’t lose their confidence, we have to keep their spirits up for league,” Bruce-Oliver said. “If we win league then we will make the playoffs.”
This is the third non-league game in the 2018 Citrus men’s soccer season. The Owls’ record stands at 0-3-0, with just one goal in three games.
The Fighting Owls face the San Diego Mesa Olympians at 3 p.m. on Friday Sept. 14 at home.
