The Santa Barbara City College Men’s Soccer team had a statement 3-2 win over LA City at home on Tuesday night, coming from behind to defeat one of last year’s 3C2A State Semifinalists.

“Guys had to step up today,” Head Coach Alex Zermeno said. “We’re out a few players, and we had five guys go down [due to injury]. It was a next-man-up mentality; we got through with about 20 players and everyone did a job. It shows how much depth we have on our roster.”

The Vaqueros gifted LA City an early goal after confusion at the back led to basically an open net for the Cubs’ striker. Goalkeeper Isaac Ortega did well to even get near the shot, let alone deflect it, but it still found the back of the net. Within 10 minutes, it was 1-0 to the visitors.

Midway through the first half, Mark Salazar equalized for the hosts. What would have been a beautiful headed goal for LA City hit the crossbar. The Vaqueros’ clearance went to the right wing to Aidan DePaco, who played a brilliant through ball to send Salazar one-on-one with the goalie. He dribbled around and finished into the open net.

It was 15 seconds between the LA City shot and the Vaqueros celebrating at the corner flag—a perfect counterattack.

Then, just on the stroke of halftime, Salazar found some space in the middle of the pitch within the Cubs’ half after an incisive pass from David Vela. He passed out wide to DePaco, who again delivered a brilliant ball to the back post, where Jose Ramirez slotted home.

“That go-ahead goal was my favorite of the three,” Zermeno said, “just because of the build-up. David, who made the early mistake, was a big component to that goal. Trusting in him and believing that he could impact the game in a positive way made me feel good as a coach—like we’re doing the right things.”

After conceding early in the game against a quality opponent, Santa Barbara came back to take a 2-1 lead into the break.

The second half began as the first half ended. Just a few minutes in, Diego Gonzalez pressed hard and blocked an attempted long ball from the goalkeeper. The ball bounced to Tiki Hummel; with the goalkeeper out of the box, the Vaquero midfielder tried to chip him.

The goalkeeper actually got in front of it, and the ball bounced off his chest and high into the air, with spin, back to Gonzalez. From 20 yards out, he volleyed the awkwardly approaching ball and fit it perfectly into the top right corner of the goal, above a leaping Cubs defender. It was an incredibly difficult shot that Gonzalez made look incredibly easy.

The visitors pulled a goal back midway through the second half. A driven low cross got by three Vaqueros before a Cub slotted home, reminiscent of the Vaqueros’ second goal. The two-goal cushion was erased.

Luckily, the Vaqueros held on. In the dying moments, LA City nearly scored on a bicycle kick from a long throw. Ortega tipped it over the crossbar to secure the home win.

Now 2-0-0, the Vaqueros look ahead to hosting Rio Hondo back at La Playa Stadium on Friday night at 7 p.m.