Boys’ soccer: Santa Barbara still the team to beat in Channel League
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Playing second fiddle in the Channel League is something Santa Barbara isn’t used to and, apparently, the Dons weren’t going to let Ventura get away with keeping them in that position this season.
Despite trailing, 1-0, late in their rain-soaked contest Tuesday, Santa Barbara scored two quick goals to take a 2-1 victory over the Cougars and to take sole possession of first place. Javier Garcia and Marcos Lopez were the heroes -- each scored in the final eight minutes of the contest off set-up passes from UC Santa Barbara-bound Vince Alvarez.
While Ventura’s turnaround has got to be the story of the season in the Channel League, you have to click your cleats to what Santa Barbara has accomplished. This team had the bizarre distinction of entering league play as the underdogs, but the Dons are proving they’re still the team to beat. And it’s that kind of resiliency that makes the them so dangerous.
It’ll be interesting to see if this team can stay out in front until the league games run out, even though Thursday’s contest at Buena won’t be an easy one.
-- Austin Knoblauch
