The San Jacinto Tigers boys' soccer team had plenty of scoring chances – nearly two dozen in all – and as a result, defeated the Riverside Notre Dame Titans 4-0 in a CIF-SS Division 6 playoff match, Tuesday, at Tigers Stadium.
The Tigers had 21 shots, while their tenacious defense held the Titans to just five in a dominating wild card performance. The win advanced the Tigers into the first round where they traveled to Nordhoff of Ojai (located north of Ventura) in a first round game on Thursday. (No results available at press time.)
The Titans (12-8-3 and the number six team from the Mountain Valley League) kept the match close in the first half, holding the Tigers to a 1-0 advantage on Francisco Copado's first of three goals.
But the Tigers and Copado essentially put the match out of reach five minutes into the second half when the slick dribbling forward sped around Titans goalkeeper Dalton Weeks and shot the ball into an empty net.
Copado added his third goal at the 65th minute, and Ismael Morales finished the scoring by drilling a penalty kick into the lower, right corner with three minutes left.
Assisting on the goals were Jose Rubio, Christian Rwiyaza and Agustin Rivas.
Tigers coach David Kubotsu couldn't have asked for a more dominating performance, and he praised his Tigers' takecharge attitude throughout the match.
"We played well and we touched the ball well today," he said. "We had a lot of opportunities and we scored quite a few, but we should have scored more. It could've been seven or eight (goals). We're pretty solid and I think were going to do well."
For Copado, his three goals give him 13 on the season. But he deflected much of the credit to his teammates on the defensive side. Such as defenders John Leyva, Marco Olvera, Ismael Morales, Craig Myers, and Jose Rubio – and others – who turned the ball around and ignited the Tigers' counter attack.
"We have a strong defense, especially in the air; it's really reliable," Copado said, adding that the Tigers have been playing topnotch soccer of late. "Since the tie with West Valley (2-2) we've picked it up and we're playing at a consistent level, so we go in (the playoffs) with some confidence."
The Tigers have now won three consecutive games, but have a long drive to Ojai to take on Nordhoff, the number one team from the Frontier League. A team Kubotsu says he knows little about. But regardless, he's pleased with the way his Tigers (12-5-5) are playing of late.
"We released the ball pretty well, and when we play one and two touch soccer that's what it's supposed to look like," he said. "Frankie (Copado) had a great game. He finished and put the ball in the net; he's a fighter. He's feisty and I love that about him."
Should the Tigers defeat Nordhoff that would set up a second round match on Tuesday, possibly at Tigers Stadium.
