SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – The Santa Barbara City College Women’s Soccer team came back to beat Canyons 2-1 on the road on Tuesday night thanks to two second-half goals.
The game got off to a slow start, literally and figuratively. Kick-off was pushed back nearly an hour due to a scheduling conflict with the officials. Naturally, the pace of the first half reflected that, as neither team created many big chances in the opening 45 minutes—just five total shots between the teams.
But just five minutes into the second half, Canyons took a 1-0 lead. The Vaqueros now had a mountain to climb if they wanted to take home a win.
Two goals in quick succession were exactly what they needed, and what they got. A left-footed low cross from the right wing to the far post drew the goalie off her line, but the ball was kicked around and trickled back across the frame of goal.
Leilani Sanchez was there to clean it up, tapping in the Vaqueros’ equalizer in the 67th minute. Elle Eichenberger earned the assist.
Less than 10 minutes later, Giselle Najera got the last touch on a corner kick that got by the goalie. As it bounced around a sea of bodies, she got her toe on it before anyone else and found the back of the net to give Santa Barbara the lead. Sanchez was credited with the assist.
In stoppage time, the Vaqueros strongly defended a corner to keep the score in their favor. Ultimately, it was a gutsy win considering the unusual start and that they initially fell behind on the road.
The Vaqueros look ahead to their next matchup at Citrus on Friday at 1 p.m., which will hopefully begin without a delay.