The Santa Rosa Junior College men’s soccer team tied 1-1 with Cañada College at home on Tuesday, in a stamina testing, back and forth battle, bringing their record to 3-0-1.
The first 10 minutes were uneventful, with both teams moving the ball close to the goal, but never able to get a shot off.
This changed in the 10th minute, when the Colts scored a chaotic goal with a corner kick into players surrounding the goal. Cañada striker Solari Gomez leapt up, heading the ball in just over the keeper’s reach. SRJC head coach Marty Kinahan called it “a weird goal but it counts the same.” The next 30 minutes of play came down to defense with no major events allowed on either side.
Then, in the 38th minute, some great SRJC ball movement and dribbling led to Bear Cubs’ striker Gabriel Gonzales scoring a goal with a perfectly placed shot into the corner of the net.
The second half of the game was slow, fundamental soccer, with no more goals for either team. SRJC goalkeeper Abel Calvillo secured four saves despite Cañada having six corner kicks.
“Second half we just didn’t create enough chances, and we had zero corners. We have to have wide play and have wide service,” Kinahan said.
The score resulting in a tie was the first bump in the road for the team’s record following a four-game winning streak.
SRJC’s Dominic Sanchez, a heavily utilized defender for SRJC noted how they can improve.
“We just gotta come out strong and be the first one on the scoreboard, and I know we’ll be good,” Sanchez said.
“I think they were happy with the tie, but for us I think it’s a game we shoulda won,” Kinahan said. The Bear Cubs look forward to a win, not a tie, in the next upcoming game at 4 p.m. Sept. 13 at home against Canyon college.
