The Vaqs soccer squad defeated L.A. Harbor in a convincing 2-0 shutout at a foggy La Playa Stadium Friday night.
About 100 spectators showed up to see City College improve its win streak to three games.
“It was a good and competitive game,” head coach John Sisterson said. “The team did well.”
The Vaqs started out the first half with a high pace and pressured forward. Both teams were playing the ball fast and intense. They each produced a couple of dangerous chances.
It wasn’t until the 30th minute when City College freshman Mohamed Ettariki, who played forward for the night, broke the deadlock and scored his first goal this season.
The goal came after a brilliant cross ball from Kalum Horne on the right wing, and Ettariki showed quickness and agility when he scored with a cheeky back-heel flick.
“Kalum was awesome this game,” Ettariki said. “The goal was a good one for the audience.”
The first half continued in a penetrating pace, and both teams played forcefully which resulted in yellow cards for L.A. Harbor. The first half ended with a 1-0 lead for the Vaqueros.
As the second half started L.A. Harbor began playing with confidence and had most of the ball possession. But as the pressure from L.A. Harbor slowly died out, the teams started spreading out and the game lost its identity.
“As a team we played good but sometimes we are stressed out,” Ettariki said.
In the 57th minute, the Vaqs extended their lead to 2-0 through midfielder Nikolai Littleton after a put back from Horne on the right wing.
“We were dangerous forward today,” said Sisterson.
However, a scary moment occurred when defender Craig Davies was replaced because of a knee injury, and he was carried off of the field in pain.
“It is not good. I will have a doctor look at it,” Davies said of his knee.
The audience, however, was able to see that the Vaqs have plenty of talented players to offer, such as hard working center-midfielder Pierre Mattsson, a freshman from Sweden.
“As long as we work together as a team, it is good,” said Mattsson. “We have potential.”
The Vaqueros finished the game strong defensively and winger Kalum Horne just missed a scoring opportunity in the waning minutes that would have added exclamation to the win.
“The team did a great job today, and we worked hard,” said Horne.
The Vaqs have started the season 4-1 and Sisterson has faith in his team. He hopes they will continue on this path at 7 p.m. Friday Sept. 24 when they face Rio Hondo at La Playa Stadium.