After taking their first loss of the season to Folsom Lake College, the Santa Rosa Junior College men’s soccer team (10-1-2) bounced back with a 3-1 win against San Joaquin Delta College (6-4-4) at home Oct. 14.
Delta kept the Bear Cubs at bay with a strong defense but SRJC was able to fight back, keeping their players within the goal lines to score.
Seventeen minutes into the game, forward Connor Wharton scored SRJC’s first goal of the game after an assist from midfielder Xavius Lanford.
In response, Delta tied the game up 1-1 after SRJC fumbled a slow-rolling free kick.
Despite the lapse, SRJC regained momentum and controlled possession through the majority of the first half.
When talking to SRJC assistant coach Andres Flores after the game he said, “I think right after the game after the loss last week you could see right away the boys taking accountability and emphasizing the focus and intensity of not wanting to lose another game.”
Outside back Andrew Santos De Leon scored the second goal, putting the Bear Cubs in the lead and ending the first half 2-1.
SRJC started the second half strong, with midfielder Edgar Nunez scoring the third goal for the team assisted by Lanford.
Delta’s movement stiffened as time expired, drawing two yellow cards and nine fouls in total.
Bear Cubs goalkeeper Jaiyah Fuksman was a stone wall against Delta’s shots, not giving them a chance to score.
With SRJC keeping Delta away from their goal, time ran out and the Bear Cubs secured the 3-1 win.
“I felt like today we bounced back from our result on Friday, just a good way to get back into rhythm and I feel like we all played good together collectively and we knew what we were gonna do before the game started,” center-mid Dominic Sanchez said.
SRJC will face Cosumnes River in their next game Oct. 17.
