Calabasas Sizes Up, Downs Santa Paula
It appeared to be a game between men and boys when a much larger Santa Paula High team took the field against a small Calabasas squad.
Calabasas countered with speed to post a 2-1 victory over Santa Paula in overtime Wednesday night in a Frontier League opener.
“This was a challenge for us, but we are for real,” said Coach John Reich of Calabasas. “They are very good, but we dominated. I was happy with the kids. They fought and fought. This is a great bunch of kids to coach.”
The Coyotes (13-0-1), the only undefeated team in the region, dominated from the outset, but an inability to finish scoring opportunities dropped Calabasas behind, 1-0, at halftime.
“We have never been a powerhouse,” said senior midfielder Doug Weitzbuch of Calabasas. “We’ve never been the cream of the crop. We’ve never been the team to beat. I hope we keep playing good soccer. Hopefully we can take league. Our competition has been harder this year than any other year I’ve been here.”
With Itzik Rapaport, the Coyotes’ leading scorer, tightly defended by Santa Paula and being fouled once he dribbled into open space, Calabasas looked to other players to set up.
Danny Barth sent a header from Amir Benakote past goalkeeper Jose Baez of Santa Paula to tie the game, 1-1, in the 74th minute.
“I was going on goal [with the header],” Barth said. “I was trying to position my body to the near post so I could get the shot off.”
Two minutes into the first overtime, Andy Dubin ran onto a through ball and managed to reach it one step before Baez, who was charging out of the goal. He kicked the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs for the winning goal.
“When I looked up I knew I could get there first,” Dubin said. “I beat the keeper by about half a step. I knew I had to reach out and touch it at the last second. I was lucky it went in. Right as I kicked it I knew it was going in.”
The Coyotes held Santa Paula (10-5-1, 1-1) to three shots in the second half and overtime. The first two shots were deflected off Coyote defenders and the last sailed 20 feet over the goal.
Santa Paula’s offense was built entirely on counterattacks. The Cardinals’ goal came on a fast counterattack in the last 30 seconds before halftime. Forward Abraham Llamas blasted a shot from 15 yards that was blocked by goalkeeper Jared Goldstein of Calabasas, but Xavier Ramirez headed the rebound into an open net.
Rapaport took nine of the Coyotes’ 21 shots, hitting the post twice, sending another three wide, two were deflected off defenders and another required a big save by Baez.