Carlos Archila Calderon converted a late penalty kick and SBCC held on for a 1-0 men's soccer triumph on a hot 90-degree day at Taft.
Santa Barbara (2-0) got a PK on a hand ball in the 55th minute but Aaron Aaberg was denied by the keeper. In the 75th minute, Nicolas Genthon was pulled down in the box, leading to another penalty kick. Calderon, a freshman from Venezuela, found the net for the game's only goal.
"It was a good performance under difficult conditions," said coach John Sisterson. "Taft is tough to beat at home. We did a much better job of going forward in the second half."
Sisterson praised goalie Zac Gottlieb for making a top-notch save in the 80th minute.
The Vaqueros make their home debut on Tuesday, Sept. 8 when El Camino-Compton Center visits La Playa Stadium for a 7 p.m. contest.
