SBCC Men’s Soccer Suffers First Loss of Season to Saddleback, 4-2

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Santa Barbara City College Men’s Soccer team (4-1-1) suffered their first defeat of the young season—4-2—to Saddleback (1-3) on Tuesday night as a two-goal lead slipped away in the second half.

Despite getting off to a hot start and leading 2-0 at halftime, the second half was not kind to the Vaqueros. Saddleback scored two goals early after the break and added two more later to earn a shocking comeback victory.

The Vaqueros nearly scored within the first 40 seconds of the game. Dean Wilson went flying down the right wing to put a cross in that ricocheted to Brandon Montalvo, but it was too awkward for him to get a good shot off.

No worries, though. Less than 10 minutes in, after a few frantic shots were blocked and a handball claim, David Magana‘s shot finally got by the goalkeeper. It was cleared by a defender, but only after it had just barely crossed over the line for a goal. The Vaqueros took an early lead.

Soon after, they doubled it. Montalvo drove a low cross to substitute Tiki Hummel—who had only been on the pitch a matter of seconds. His shot was blocked, but the ball leaked through to Aidan DePaco who smashed it in from eight yards out to make it 2-0.

Right before halftime, Saddleback had a set piece in a dangerous area that the Vaqueros solidly cleared, but the visitors hit the crossbar immediately after. It was a warning to the Vaqueros not to rest on their two-goal lead, which they took into the break.

Less than five minutes into the second half, Saddleback got a goal back on a well-executed short corner routine. That was not all, either. They equalized shortly after directly from a corner kick, stunning the Vaqueros who were in control for the majority of the first half. Suddenly, it was game on with 35 minutes left to play.

Not long after that, Saddleback hit the crossbar, and the rebound was headed in for a goal before the offside flag went up. They made the next chance count, however; the Vaqueros gave the ball away in a dangerous area, and Saddleback made them pay, hitting a left-footed shot from the left side of the box into the net to take a shocking lead. Just 15 minutes after halftime, the score was flipped 3-2 Saddleback.

Saddleback hit the crossbar again in the 73rd minute, nearly taking a two-goal lead themselves. They held onto their lead until stoppage time, when they scored on a breakaway after the Vaqueros put all their effort into one final corner kick. The final score was 4-2.

Santa Barbara hopes to turn the page as they travel to Pasadena on Friday at 4:30 p.m.