Rival Teams Find Score Evened Up

Four days after information provided by Oxnard High boys’ soccer Coach Pedro Mendoza led to Channel League rival Rio Mesa having to forfeit a league victory, the teams tied, 2-2, Tuesday at Oxnard.

While investigating illegal outside participation by Yellowjacket reserve Isidro Aguilar last week, Mendoza discovered an identical violation by a Rio Mesa starter.

Oxnard officials contacted Rio Mesa administrators, leading to the Spartans forfeiting a victory over Ventura on Friday.

Tuesday, Austin Dillon scored with 15 minutes to play off an assist by Jacob Beck to earn Rio Mesa (7-4-2, 0-3-1 in league play) its first league point. The Spartans are defending league champions.

Oxnard (3-2-6, 0-3-1) led twice on goals by Andres Ponce and Edgar Almaraz. Ivan Medina scored Rio Mesa’s first goal. Spartan Arturo Medina and Yellowjacket Ruben Palomino were ejected.

Spartan Coach Brent Kruk said he has no hard feelings toward Mendoza.

“[Mendoza] had every right to do what he did because our player was in the wrong,” Kruk said.

Kruk, who last season guided Rio Mesa to its first league title in the 19-year history of the program, has yet to start the same lineup twice this season because of vacations, injuries and ejections.

But the coach holds out hope for a playoff berth based on a 0-4 league start in 1995 that the Spartans turned into a Southern Section Division II semifinal appearance.

“We’re piecing it together and there’s always hope if they believe,” Kruk said.

In other boys’ soccer games:

Santa Barbara 2, Ventura 1--Dana Weymouth converted a penalty kick with 10 minutes to play to give the Dons (7-4-1, 2-1-1) the Channel League victory at Ventura.

Nathan Kirby scored off Mike Enfield’s ninth assist to give the Cougars (7-3-1, 2-1-1) a 1-0 halftime lead.

Buena 0, Dos Pueblos 0--Goalie Robert Klamser recorded his second shutout and Buena (9-1-3, 3-0-1) outshot the Chargers , 16-4, but came away with a draw in a Channel League game at Dos Pueblos (4-6-2, 2-0-2).

Canyon 1, Hart 1--Jorge Ledesma scored midway through the second half off a pass from Chris James to lift Hart (4-7-2, 1-0-1) into a Foothill League tie with the visiting Cowboys (9-5-1, 1-0-1).

Canyon’s Jimmy Giordano scored his seventh goal in the first half, knocking in a 25-yard free kick.

Saugus 2, Burbank 1--Chris Holcomb and Jeremy Kachorsky scored for the Centurions (7-6-2, 1-1) in a Foothill League game at Saugus.

Burroughs 2, Valencia 1--Robbie Honicky and Gary Guenther staked the Indians (9-1-5, 1-0-1) to a 2-0 halftime lead before Remy Meyerstein scored for Valencia (8-5-2, 0-2) in a Foothill League game at Burroughs.

North Hollywood 6, Sylmar 2--Starling Barahona and Najib Benjelloun each had two goals for the Huskies (4-1, 4-1) in a Valley Pac-8 game at North Hollywood.

Monroe 2, Van Nuys 2--Antonio Roman scored on a 20-yard direct kick with 10 minutes to play to lift host Monroe (6-2-3, 3-0-2) into a tie in a Mid-Valley League game.

Daniel Garcia scored Monroe’s first goal in the 20th minute after Van Nuys took a 2-0 lead on goals in the first 15 minutes by Jose Lopez and Chris Abraham.

Crescenta Valley 2, Muir 0--Eddie Nashat scored in the first half and Nick Ruoff in the second for the Falcons (9-5-1, 1-1) in a Pacific League game at Crescenta Valley.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Hart 2, Canyon 2--Hart (10-2-3, 1-0-1) averted a Foothill League upset when it rallied from a 2-0 deficit at Canyon (5-2-3, 1-0-1).

Micki Melillo and Gentry Green scored for Canyon.

Erin Misaki scored the Indians’ first goal shortly before halftime, and Gould scored off a Misaki corner kick midway through the second half.

Saugus 1, Burbank 0--Kimmy Wright scored in the last five minutes to send the Bulldogs (8-5-1, 0-1-1) to a Foothill League defeat at Burbank.

Ventura 1, Santa Barbara 0--Kitty Sexton scored her 13th goal of the season on a 20-yard shot off a free kick by Mandy Enfield to break a scoreless tie in the 77th minute of the Channel League game at Santa Barbara.

Freshman goalkeeper Jeannie Loudermilk made six saves to record the shutout for Ventura (8-7, 3-2).

Valencia 3, Burroughs 0--Katie Bunn, Nicole Lockwood and Alicia Alexander each scored for the Vikings (1-1 in league play) in a Foothill League game at Valencia.

L.A. Baptist 4, Village Christian 2--Lisa Jepperson had two goals and Joanna Dominguez had a goal and two assists for the Knights (5-2) in an Alpha League opener at L.A. Baptist.

Kennedy 6, San Fernando 0--Brigitte Macias scored three goals for the Golden Cougars (4-3-1, 1-0) in a West Valley League game at San Fernando.

Birmingham 8, Canoga Park 0--Krissy Oaks had five goals and one assist, and the Braves (6-2-1) recorded their sixth shutout victory in a West Valley League opener at Canoga Park.

GIRLS’ WATER POLO

Buena 19, Rio Mesa 6--Brenna Huhn scored five goals, Paige Wilson added four and Carolina Robles had three goals and eight steals in a Channel League game at Buena (5-5, 2-3).

Stefanie Weireter had three goals for Buena.