Neither City College nor Santa Monica College could collect the win during record breaking heat Friday afternoon at La Playa Stadium, ending the game in a 1-1 tie.
The game started off quickly with City College freshman forward Kyran Johal scoring in the 8th minute after Santa Monica sophomore goalkeeper Weston Adkins came out of the goal to challenge him. Shortly after Santa Monica freshman defender Carlos Sandoval tied the game with a goal of his own in the 13th minute.
“This is how we wanted to start the game, get an early goal and take control of the game,” Johal said. “Unfortunately once their goal went in we kind of deflated.”
In the 15th minute the Santa Monica Corsairs had another opportunity during a breakaway, but good one on one defense from Vaquero freshman defender Johan Mauritzson prevented a goal Both teams were very evenly matched in the game with both teams having 11 shots and three on the goal. City College did have the advantage in corner kicks with nine, against five from the Corsairs.
There was an unusual water break for all the players in the 28th minute due to the game being played in the height of the afternoon heat. At game time the temperature was 88 degrees on the field and raised to 95 degrees at one point. Because of the heat head coach John Sisterson had to make some adjustments.
“We used all our substitutions very early,” Sisterson said. “It was a hot day”
Santa Monica freshman midfielder Gabriel Torres had a scoring opportunity by a free kick just outside the goalkeeper’s box after being kicked in the chest, but was blocked by the Vaquero defense.
In the 38th minute the Corsairs had another great scoring opportunity when freshman midfielder Yarden Amira attempted a goal from seven yards away with only Vaquero freshman goalkeeper Angel Cervantes to beat, but kicked it just over the goal. In the 46th minute Santa Monica had a second free kick opportunity from just outside the goalkeeper’s box by freshman midfielder Claodio Maaloof, but his shot went just right of the goal.
In the second half of the game both teams noticeably slowed down and were making a lot of passing back and forth without much advancing from either side. In the 80th minute City College freshman midfielder Dylan Tuell attempted a goal with an outstanding diving save by Adkins to prevent the score. Despite the late attempt the Vaqueros couldn’t finish off the game with a win.
“We let ourselves down again,” Sisterson said. “And it’s unfortunate because we did start off brightly against a decent team.”
The coaching staff and the players believed they should had won the game.
“We’ve been trying to finish our chances early and finish off games. We got the first part right, unfortunately we didn’t get the second part because of the follow through,” Johal said. “We should be winning games like this.”
The Vaqueros next game will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13 at Moorpark.
