ARCHIVES

ARCHIVES

Lompoc defense does in SY

By Brad Memberto / Sports Writer / bmemberto@syvnews.com

Buy this photo now
Rufino Serrano, a member of the Santa Maria Boxing Club, is slated to fight for the third time in his pro career at the ShoBox event at Chumash Casino on Friday. //Mark Brown/Staff

The Santa Ynez offense had its chances in the second half, but the Lompoc defense proved to be too much in a league boys soccer match on Wednesday at Huyck Stadium in Lompoc.

“This is a good team,” Lompoc coach Pepe Marquez said about Santa Ynez. “They are well coached and they have a good coach.

“Our defense is playing really, really well and Bricio (Chavez) is playing well.”

The Lompoc defense was solid throughout the game and cleared several attempts before the ball even reached their goalie Chavez.

With the win, Lompoc moved to 7-1 in the LPL. Santa Ynez fell to 3-4.

The game was a tight, physical one with both teams getting plenty of chances to score.

“Lompoc is defensively very strong,” said Santa Ynez coach Alex Uribe. “They use a 4-4-2, with two up front who are very strong.

“Those two cause chaos with the four defenders which keeps them at bay and then they can defend with everything.”

Both teams had strong chances in the first few minutes of the game, but Lompoc was able to break through in the 15th minute. Ricky Serrano had a corner kick and sent the ball high into the middle of a crowd. Alejandro Maldonado was able to head the ball into the net.

Up front, Jesus Anguiano and Serrano had several breaks and early in the game forced Santa Ynez goalie Justin Deats to make some tough saves. The header by Maldonado was away from Deats, who had no chance to stop it.

The game was quite physical as the referee let the teams play. Neither coach complained.

“It’s soccer — it’s physical,” Uribe said. “Soccer is a physical game and you are supposed to get your uniform dirty.”

The physical aspect does still have an effect on the young Pirates team.

“It’s a maturing factor and we haven’t gotten there yet,” Uribe said. “We seem to have problems in physical games because the kids are so young.”

Midway through the second half, Santa Ynez began to control the tempo and began an extended assault on the Lompoc net. But the defense came up big in front of Chavez.

“The momentum changes back and forth,” Marquez said. “But our defense was on.”

February 2, 2010