Long Beach Takes Down Number One Seed Santa Monica College

Saturday saw the Vikings visit the top seeded Corsairs of Santa Monica, who are currently ranked number one in the nation by the United Soccer Coaches Association. Although Santa Monica went up early 1-0,, the Vikings would come back and win the match easily by the score of 4-2. 

Santa Monica would strike first in minute four when they would strike the ball from distance. The ball hit the post and then ricochet off the back of the keeper, into the net. Eight  minutes later, Long Beach would score off of a cross from Aseal Sales. Robert Orozco would first time the cross and settle the ball into the side netting to tie the score. Less than ten minutes later Sales would be on the scoring end, off a cross from Cesar Garcia Solorzano, as he also first timed the ball into the opposite side netting, to put the Vikings up for good at 2-1. 

The second half would see Long Beach come out strong as they scored two goals within the first five minutes of the half. The scoring would begin when Josh Grado brought the ball up the field, then laid it off to Rafael Godoi, who gave a crafty return pass to Grado. Grado would do the rest as he put the ball past the oncoming keeper. Kuliano Doty-Navarro would get the fourth goal off of a cross from Jiro Uchida. Santa Monica received a penalty kick later in the game to make the final score 4-2. 

Goalkeeper Fabio Ardizzoia  would only have to make a total of two saves, one in each half, as his team played stellar defense in front of him. Orozco would be the only defender that would play the full ninety minutes, as the Vikings were able to use rotations of Andrew Zevallos, Josh Penazola, Daniel Arreola, Diego Penazola, Demetrious Tanks, and Sales. In addition to the job done by the defensive line, Jordi Pineda, Eric Diaz and Grado would control the midfield and the tempo of the game.

The elite eight match will be versus Cerritos on the road Tuesday, November 25 at 2:00 PM. 

Courtesy Cameron Beaulac