Jimenez nets goal and assist in 2-0 shutout

SBCC scored two goals in a 75-second span of the second half on Friday night and went on to blank Cypress 2-0 in a men's soccer match at La Playa Stadium.

It was the third straight shutout for sophomore goalie Shane Pitcock and the Vaqueros (3-1), who haven't allowed a goal in 306 minutes.

Jessie Jimenez, a 5-7 freshman midfielder from Dos Pueblos High, had a goal and assist in the nonconference win. After a scoreless first half, he broke the ice in the 57th minute, taking a throw-in from Jelan Hutton and delivering a 15-yard back-flick header that carried over the goalie's head into the net.

"It wasn't really a set-up play, it just happened in the moment," said Jimenez after posting the first goal and assist of his college career. "We were looking for someone to flick it back post. I'm one of the smaller guys, so it came naturally."

Seventy-five seconds later, Jimenez fed Callum Challinor, who beat the goalie from 13 yards out for a 2-0 lead.

"We put pressure on the back half, then we all stepped together and the ball came to me like we planned," said Jimenez of the second goal. "I put my head on it, split the defenders and it went perfectly to Callum's foot for him to finish back post. We stuck to the game plan, stayed disciplined, won second-balls and first-balls and got the better of them."

SBCC had several solid scoring chances in the opening half with the most spectacular coming on a 49-yard free kick by Nicolas Genthon that bounced off the crossbar in the 22nd minute. Santa Barbara outshot the visitors 9-4 in the first half and 15-6 for the game with eight shots on-goal.

"When you keep a clean sheet, you're not going to lose," said coach John Sisterson. "We got two good goals tonight. In the offensive end, you have to play with no risk and a little bit of flair and go score a few goals.

"I thought Jessie played very well and so did Victor Chavez. We dominated the game in that 20-minute spell in the second half and went at them. After that, we looked like a team that can pass the ball and keep the ball. When you're up 2-nil, you don't need to go forward and look for another goal. You just need to hang onto it and keep them from scoring."

The Vaqueros will host Bakersfield on Tuesday at 2 p.m.