UPDATE: The College of the Canyons Cougars delivered a stunning performance on October 27, 2023, crushing Citrus College with a commanding 6-2 victory on Sophomore Night. The Cougars showcased their offensive prowess, scoring a season-high six goals, as they celebrated their five departing sophomores in front of an energetic home crowd.
The Cougars (5-11-3, 3-6) played their final home match of the season, finishing with a balanced 4-4-2 home record. In a heartfelt pre-match ceremony, the coaching staff honored sophomores Diego Briseno, Steven Garcia, Juandiego Rodriguez, Jeffrey Contreras, and Leon Mikailian for their invaluable contributions over the past two seasons.
The action kicked off in the second half when Ivan Omana netted his first goal of the season just two minutes after the restart, giving Canyons a 1-0 lead. A minute later, Omana struck again, doubling the advantage to 2-0 with an assist from Carlos Mendez.
Citrus (1-18-1, 1-8) fought back in the 61st minute with a goal from Kevin Cardenas, narrowing the gap to 2-1. However, the Cougars responded swiftly as Contreras scored his first of the season in the 73rd minute, extending the lead to 3-1.
Citrus kept the pressure on, with Cardenas scoring again shortly after, making it 3-2. But the Cougars were relentless. Juandiego Rodriguez showcased his skills with two goals, boosting his season total to three and sealing the match with strikes in the 74th and 87th minutes. The final blow came from Leon Mikailian, who scored in the 90th minute, solidifying the Cougars’ victory at 6-2.
Goalkeeper Jonathan Mazon started the game with two saves, while David Zendejas (3-8) played the second half, ultimately earning the win. The Cougars overwhelmed Citrus with a total of 26 shots, including 17 on goal, and earned nine corners throughout the match. Citrus goalkeeper AJ Baragan recorded an impressive nine saves despite the onslaught.
With this decisive victory, the Cougars now shift their focus to their season finale against Santa Monica College on Wednesday. Fans are eager to see if the team can carry this momentum into their final match of the season.
Stay tuned for more updates as the Cougars aim to finish strong!
