Owls Knocked Out In Final Minutes

Glendora, CA -- In what was a back and forth affair, it was the Citrus College Men's Soccer team that was knocked out in the final minutes of their Western State Conference matchup with Santa Barbara City College. After erasing a two goal deficit in a span of four minutes, the Owls were dealt the final blow in the 88th minute in what ended up being a 5-4 loss.

Santa Barbara got the days scoring going when they took an early 1-0 lead in the 20th minute. The Owls answered with goals by freshman Daniel Ortiz, off an assist from freshman Grayson Iwasaki, in the 26th minute and a goal by freshman Michael Montoya thanks to passes from freshman Masaya Kawauchi and Iwasaki in the 42nd minute.

The Owls would hang onto that lead until three minutes into the second half when the Vaqueros tied the game up at two goals each. Santa Barbara then took a lead in the 51st minute, before extending it to two goals in the 71st minute. Citrus didn't give up though and clawed their way back into the match. Freshman Takuro Kawashima pulled the Owls to within with a 30 yard strike on a free kick in the 80th minute.

Four minutes later, freshman Sebastiano Ronga scored his first of the year when he finished a cross in the box from Iwasaki to make it 4-4.  Alas it wasn't meant to be for the Owls as they gave up their fifth goal of the game late in the 88th minute, falling by that one last goal.

In the loss, Citrus falls to 6-11 overall and 5-8 in WSC play. The Owls will head back out on the road this Friday to take on Allan Hancock College. That match is set for a 3:00 PM start.