Espinoza scores twice in 2-1 win over Santa Monica

Carlos Espinoza scored two goals in the last 11 minutes of the first half on Tuesday night as SBCC rallied for a 2-1 men's soccer victory over Santa Monica at La Playa Stadium.

The Vaqueros (8-6, 3-2) handed the Corsairs (8-4-5, 1-1-3) their first WSC North setback.

Santa Monica struck first with Danny Hernandez blasting in a corner kick from Rudi Ibrahim in the 31st minute. Four minutes later, Casey Everett made a long throw-in and Callum Challinor took off up the right side, then slid a pass to Espinoza for the game-tying goal.

In the 45th minute, Matthew Wilkinson booted a long free kick and Challinor challenged the goalie, who punched the ball back out. It bounced right to Espinoza and he scored into an open net from 16 yards out.

"It was nice to score both of the goals," said Espinoza, a freshman midfielder from Royal High in Simi Valley. "On the first one, I pretended to go in, then cut to the right and Callum just found my feet. The second one was a rebound that came right to me and I went near post.

"After we went up 2-1, it was all about defending in the second half."

Espinoza has five goals, tying him for the team lead with Kevin Kwizera.

The Vaqueros outshot the Corsairs 8-3 in the second half and 13-7 for the game.

Nicolas Genthon made a nice sliding kick save in the 56th minute. Five minutes later, he tried to clear the ball with a back-kick that was heading for the top of the net until goalie Shane Pitcock leaped up to punch it over the bar.

"We came back well to lead 2-1," said coach John Sisterson. "Once you get the lead, you don't want to concede another goal and you have to manage the game correctly. I told them at halftime, if we don't give up a goal in the second half, we'll win the game.

"Carlos was very composed on both goals, especially the second one. The first one was a pretty goal and Callum worked hard to set it up."

The Vaqueros open the second round of WSC play on Friday with a 4 p.m. game at Hancock.