October 15, 2008

Men’s Soccer:
Late Batista goal gives Vikings 2-1 SCC win at Compton

Manuel Batista scored off an assist from Warwick Newbold with eight minutes left to give the Long Beach City College men’s soccer team  a 2-1 South Coast Conference win at El Camino College Compton Center. 

Long Beach dominated most of the game and out shot ECC Compton 16-5.  LBCC is currently 10-1-4 on the year, and 3-1-1 in conference play.

In minute nine, Alex Martinez received a back heal pass from Batista, flipped it in the air with his right foot, and sent a full volley into the back of the net with his left.  LBCC continued to keep up the offensive pressure and were denied on two separate occasions by brilliant saves from the Compton keeper.

Thirty minutes into the second half, Compton was awarded a penalty kick when goalkeeper Jose Gomez tackled a Compton player in the box.  Although Gomez made the save on the initial penalty, the lineman ruled that he left to early.  On the second attempt, the penalty was put away, evening the score at 1-1. 

Batista’s game winning goal was his 15th of the season, leaving him two goals behind the school single-season record set by former All-American Aaron Gutcher.

LBCC’s next home match is Friday, October 17,  against East Los Angeles College at 4 p.m.