Boys’ soccer: Say hello to Santa Barbara’s youth movement
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Santa Barbara is off to a familiar start and the Dons have to be the early-season favorite for what would be a sixth consecutive Channel League title (although I’m sure unbeaten Ventura might have something to say about that).
The biggest reason behind Santa Barbara’s 12-1-3 record has been the play of its shutout-inducing defense. With its 0-0 tie against Camarillo in the Buena New Year’s Tournament this morning, the Dons have posted 12 shutouts in 16 games -- and they’ve done it with a bunch of sophomores and juniors roaming the middle and back fields.
Sophomore MFs Jesus Gonzalez, Jesus De La Luz and junior D/MF Jesus Flores (the ‘Three Jesuses’!) have played an instrumental role in holding opponents to just four goals this season. And senior defender Will Chandler has continued his role as the team’s primary goal preventer.
‘There were huge question marks about how we would do (defensively) because we graduated four out of our five defenders, plus our goalie,’ Santa Barbara Coach Todd Heil said. ‘But our defense has been exceptionally strong and we’re doing well because of it.’
Everything isn’t perfect, though. The Dons have had to settle with a couple of scoreless ties heading into this afternoon’s contest with a competitive Thousand Oaks squad (the Dons tied the Lancers, 1-1, on Dec. 11).
Some of the recent scoring drop-off has to do with leading scorer Vince Alvarez missing the last three contests because of an ankle injury. The UC Santa Barbara-bound Alvarez, who has eight goals and 22 points, is expected to be back in the lineup shortly.
Until then, sophomore Christian Pardo (8 goals, 2 assists) will have to be the Dons’ top offensive threat. We’ll see if Pardo and the rest of his cleated brethren have what it takes to conquer a decent 12-team field in Ventura this weekend.
-- Austin Knoblauch
