In the midst of a storm on Thursday, the LBCC Vikings dismantled the Miramar Jets on their way to an 8-0 victory.
The Vikings started the game off hot with two opportunities at the goal in the first three minutes from two freshman, forward Evelyn Sandoval and midfielder Aimee McSparren. This would set the tone for the entire match.
It wasn’t long before Mcsparren scored the day’s first goal as the Miramar keeper dove unsuccessfully for a cross that was sent into the box, leaving McSparren with the ball and a wide-open net in the sixth minute.
Six minutes later, Sandoval came right back at the Jets with a run where she was able to find Genesis Lopez, who chipped the ball over the Jets’ keeper for the Vikings second goal of the game.
The fluency in the Vikings’ attacks was evident in this game, and this season the team has been able to develop a really good chemistry with each other according to Sandoval.
“Yesterday we had a little bit of team bonding where we went in the pool, and it was a lot of fun, so I think we took that and put it on the field,” said Sandoval.
The Vikings found themselves with yet another chance at a goal when forward, Diana Leon, belted a header at Miramar’s keeper. However, the header was saved.
Less than a minute later, Leon was teed up for another opportunity at a header and placed the ball in the back of the net, putting the Vikings up 3-0 in the 24 minute.
Persistence from the Vikings would continue to be rewarded as Alyssa Rivas shot the ball into the box, which bounced off a Jets defender and found its way into the goal to put the Vikings at 4-0 in the 27 minute.
The Vikings lead was extended to 5-0 as Sandoval continued her amazing game when she made a long run past multiple Jets defenders and faked out the Jets’ goalkeeper, leaving her with an open goal to shoot at.
Leon found herself with another opportunity in the box in the 41st minute as she had an easy tap-in goal putting the Vikings up 6-0.
The Vikings scored in minutes once again when Sandoval carved up the Miramar defense yet again and found herself in a 1-on-1 situation with the Jets’ keeper. She elegantly dodged the keeper and passed it right into the goal for a 7-0 Vikings lead.
In the 54 minute, the last goal of the day for LBCC when Lopez took possession of the ball and gave the Vikings their eighth goal of the day after a multitude of saves from the Jets’ keeper.
Even though no more goals were scored, the Vikings’ defense continued to hold strong in the second half allowing no shots at the goal, compared to their 16 shots at the goal.
Head Coach Eduardo Nunes was proud of his team for playing well defensively as well as putting eight goals on the board.
“It was good. Some players have been getting so close, so it was good to be able to get that one in, get that monkey off their back. Now it’s just focusing on continuing to have the team gel and get ready for next week,” said Coach Nunes.
The LBCC Vikings look to feed off this momentum as they take a perfect 4-0-0 preseason record into Tuesday’s game at 2 p.m. against Mt. San Jacinto College.