City College men’s soccer team dominated against the Citrus College Owls on Oct. 3 at La Playa Stadium, winning 4-0.
The Owls started the game with the ball, but it didn’t last long with City College immediately putting them under pressure. Vaqueros’ winger Diego Gonzalez came in quickly and stole the ball away, ending the Owls’ short-lived attack.
The whistle was heard early in the game as both teams were getting plenty of foul calls while also struggling to keep possession. Citrus College was awarded an early free kick which did not lead to much as the City College defense held strong, not allowing a shot on goal.
City College was unable to get an attack on goal going as any attempt ended with costly mistakes. Their first attack was halted by a handball, their next two by back-to-back offsides calls. It wasn’t until a round of substitutions that the team gained control of the pacing in the match.
“I thought we started really slow today,” Head coach Alex Zermeno said. “It took about 15 minutes to get into the game before we got our tempo going.”
In that round of substitutes coming into the game was winger Elai Sidov who helped City College gain their first goal. Four minutes after subbing in, the Vaqueros set up an attack that led to Sidov’s strike in the upper right corner, putting the Vaqueros up 1-0 in the 28th minute.
“I saw the defender coming at me,” Sidov said. “I knew I had to cut in and shoot it.”
After the goal, the Vaqueros had the pace of the game in their hands. They remained the aggressor for the rest of the half, mounting attack after attack. After a failed cross attempt and Citrus clearing the ball, midfielder David Vela won the ball in the air and sent a ball up to center forward Jesus Avila.
Avila was met by a defender whom he muscled through, then proceeded to sidestep his way around the keeper, leading to yet another City College goal that extended the lead to 2-0.
“It all starts at practice with everyone fighting for their spot,” Avila said. “That’s how we become so physical in our games.”
Coming out of the half, City College picked up right where they left off. The Vaqueros controlled the pace and kept a steady attack.
City College would send in quick crosses to the goal which were deflected multiple times by the Owls’ goalkeeper. Midfielder Mariodavid Vega then scored in the 60th minute. The Vaqueros were on top 3-0.
The Vaqueros cruised the rest of the way before winger Abel Robles finished it off, blowing by the keeper for the fourth goal of the night. Robles’ goal made the score 4-0 which is a season high for the team.
“We like to keep the ball in our possession,” Zermeno said. “When we get opportunities we have to put them away and today we did.”
City College’s next match will be against Allan Hancock on Oct. 10 at La Playa Stadium.
