The Citrus College Men’s Soccer team started the season with two losses against El Camino College and Norco College.
Citrus lost two games to the Chaffey College Panthers last season, so victory was not assured in their third game against nearby rival Chaffey College. The Owls lost 4-0 on Sept. 7.
Citrus head coach Fred Bruce-Oliver said his team hoped to salvage their season prospects.
Those hopes were dashed by the end of the first half when Isaac Solorzano headbutted Chaffey’s third goal.
“It’s a tough game versus a local team and program that regularly makes the playoffs that we have not beaten in a while,” Bruce-Oliver said.
Chaffey player Ivan Diaz shot the ball past the Citrus goalkeeper Edward Youssef, breaking the 0-0 tie at 31 minutes.
This momentum shifted for Chaffey. Chaffey striker Christopher Briseno scored, followed by Solorzano. With Chaffey leading 3-0, the second half was not any easier for the Owls.
Coach Bruce-Oliver, the players and the crowd were visibly frustrated by the referee’s calls.
In the seventy-second minute, Chaffey player Daniel Navarro scored to finish the games at 4-0, essentially putting a stamp to the outcome of the game.
Chaffey’s goalkeeper Alex Mitchell repelled eight attempts from the Owls.
“The other team, what they do, they do it better first of all, and they create chances,” Fred-Bruce Oliver said. “They put the ball in the goal. We have chances — everything. We hit, right through the goalkeepers hands. You know, it’s tough.”
The Owl’s are 0-3 this season. Their next game is at 3 p.m. Sept. 10 at Cypress College.
