SANTA BARBARA, CA – Facing a very good Santa Monica team on Friday, the SBCC men's soccer team couldn't get on track and conceded its most goals of the year in a 4-1 defeat.
The Vaqueros were handed their first home loss of the season and are now 8-4-4 overall and 3-3 in WSC play. The Corsairs improved to 11-2-5 overall and 4-1-1 in conference.
SMC got out to a great start, breaking down the Vaquero defense just two and a half minutes in for the opening goal from Javier Mendoza.
SBCC answered back in the 15th minute. A ball played into the box caused a Corsair defender to go into the back of midfielder Dylan Rogers, bringing Lukas Lovgren to the spot for a penalty. Lovgren put it away for his ninth goal of the season to tie it at 1-1.
However, a crucial mistake in the 25th minute led to SMC's next goal, as the Corsairs pounced on the Vaqueros in their own box, dispossesing them and scoring easily off the foot of Taj Winnard.
Santa Monica doubled its lead several minutes into the second half on a goal by Ryan Maher and capped the day with a header from Alexander Lalor in the 88th minute.
Despite the loss, SBCC still has the most goals (47) and highest goal differential (+29) in the WSC. The Vaqueros will continue a three-game home stand on Tuesday against Moorpark at 1:30 p.m.
