A pair of goals off free kicks proved to be more than enough for the San Marcos High boys’ soccer team to beat its crosstown rival Santa Barbara 2-0 and remain unbeaten on the season.
With the win, the Royals are now 5-0 in league play. Through those games this season they have outscored the opponents 19-3, including beating both in-city rivals, Santa Barbara and Dos Pueblos, by a combined 6-0 margin.
“I wouldn’t have charted this season the way it has happened,” San Marcos coach Paul McLean said.
In the first half, San Marcos had a few shots, but none that were clear threats — except one that was cleared away by Dons’ goalkeeper Jeffrey Lechuga.
Santa Barbara coach Ricardo Alvarez said his team was following the game plan they had laid out, defending as closely as possible and trying to capitalize on a mistake.
That almost happened in the ninth minute, as Santa Barbara player went one-on-one with San Marcos’ keeper Freddie Gonzalez. The shot was blocked but still almost slowly rolled into the net until Gonzalez got back up and collected the ball.
“We wanted to make the field as small as possible and catch these guys off guard on maybe a set piece or two and we almost got them early, but we didn’t capitalize,” said Alcaraz.
“Against a team like this, you need to finish the few opportunities you get, but I am still very proud of our guys.”
San Marcos senior forward Luke Sheffey broke the game open with his goal-scoring ability in the 45th minute.
After a foul on Santa Barbara, Sheffey set up for a free kick from about 25 yards, near the right hash marker.
He hit the ball and found the top left corner of the net, an impossible stop for Lechuga, giving his team the 1-0 lead.
“I’ve been like practicing these free kicks like every day in practice, so I decided it was time to do it in the game. I just waited for my Ronaldo run-up and just banged it top left,” Sheffey said.
Sheffey said San Marcos was able to create more opportunities in the second half by playing simple passes through the midfield to then work the ball up the field.
He added that beating Santa Barbara always remains one of his top goals.
“This win means everything to me. Santa Barbara, they’re definitely high on my list of teams I want to beat, so it feels good,” Sheffey said.
McLean was also impressed with the goal by his senior captain, adding, “to finally finish one made a big difference in terms of our momentum.”
In the second half, San Marcos registered 10 shots, about half of which were on goal. Lechuga made some key saves in the 51st, 60th, and 68th minutes to try to keep Santa Barbara in the contest.
Overall, he finished with five saves.
“He’s only played two games because he came back from football injured, but he’s been great,” said Alcaraz. “He has quick reflexes and, for not training for like a month and to come back and have a performance like that against a good team, that was huge. I couldn’t be happier for him.”
The Royals got another free kick opportunity in the 75th minute, this one just outside the top of the box.
Senior Leonel Olivo threw everyone off guard when he kicked a low, hard-ball and slotted the shot right past the Santa Barbara defense to ice the game, 2-0.
“He’s scored so many goals and so many different kinds, he is a special player for sure,” McLean said.
San Marcos is looking forward to its first non-league games of the season coming next week, when they head to the South Torrance Tournament.
“This was a big game for us, an important one,” said McLean. “Give credit to Santa Barbara, they had more desire than us in that first half and it showed.
“We’re figuring stuff out as we go and we have a tournament next weekend that I think will help a lot with that.”