Ventura Buena’s Boom Balls Bounce Santa Margarita

Ventura Buena didn’t win a lot of style points with Santa Margarita boys’ soccer Coach Curt Bauer, but the Bulldogs found the back of the net often enough to come away with a 3-1 victory in the final of the Royal tournament Tuesday in Simi Valley.

Buena used a simple attack--clearing its defensive third of the field with long kicks and letting energetic forwards Brad Workman, Chris Parkin and Ariel Hurtado run under them--to down the two-time Southern Section Division III champions. Such a ploy is sometimes known in soccer circles as Boot and Scoot, a tactic for which Bauer showed an almost haughty disdain.

“They just kick it to their little fast guys up front,” said Bauer, who graduated 13 players from last season’s team. “They don’t play much soccer, but when they get it up front, they’re tough.”

Such a synopsis short-changes Buena’s defense and intensity, which are impressive. The Bulldogs (8-2-1) gave up one goal in their five tournament games and didn’t give their highly skilled opponents time or space.

“We do rest, but we do it in a good defensive position,” said Josh Boys, the Buena sweeper who headed in the winning goal off a Brad Workman corner kick eight minutes into the second half. “You cover for a guy when he goes out to apply pressure, then when it’s your turn, you’re ready and in the right place.”

Santa Margarita (7-3-2) took a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute when Sebastian Galmarini shook off two defenders and chipped a ball over charging Buena goalkeeper Lani Kaluna from 18 yards. Buena tied it four minutes before halftime when Jason Bradbury lunged forward and scored from five yards.

Buena, which avenged a 3-0 loss to Santa Margarita in a tournament game last year, closed out the scoring with five minutes to play when David Fuentes’ cross from the left side was tipped in at the right post by a sliding Hurtado.

“We play ugly, but we play to our strengths,” said Sean Roche, the Buena coach. “We play hard defensively and counter-attack as fast as we can and as often as we can. It’s very frustrating for the other team.”

Asked if such a style will hold up in the Channel League race and the playoffs, Roche smiled.

“If [the players] believe in the things they can do and do them well, then maybe they’ll have time to learn the classical, beautiful style of soccer,” he said.

For now, the Bulldogs boot, scoot and celebrate.