The wind was blowing hard in Lompoc, but it wasn’t a wind of change in Channel League boys soccer as Santa Barbara High won its fifth straight title with a 6-1 victory over Cabrillo on Monday.
Juan Carlos Torres scored two goals and assisted on another and Brandon Pacheco had a goal and an assist for the Dons, who are 7-0-2 and four points ahead of second-place Santa Ynez with one game remaining.
“Couldn’t be more proud of the season the boys have put together so far,” said Santa Barbara coach Todd Heil. “They felt as if they were a little overlooked in the preseason discussions in regards to the Channel League title and they let their play on the pitch do their talking.”
Santa Barbara struck in the second minute when Sean Williams played a ball behind the Cabrillo back line and Torres got on the end of it and finished at the near post.
Miguel Alvarado made it 2-0 in 20th minute by tapping in a shot by Torres. Three minutes later, Torres finished a lay-off from Cason Goodman.
Pacheco made 4-0 on a header of a cross from Luke Goodman. Pacheco then beat Cabrillo’s back line wth a deep ball that William Dunaway ran on to and beat the goalkeeper one on one for a 5-0 lead before halftime.
Diego Espinosa scored the sixth goal four minutes into the second half on failed clearance by Cabrillo.
The Dons, who are ranked fifth in Division 1 of the CIF-SS and 10th in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer, host Dos Pueblos on Wednesday at San Marcos at 7 p.m.