A fierce battle was fought on the soccer field Friday afternoon, as the Oxnard College Condors came out on top in a 4-2 win over the Moorpark College Raiders.
The Raiders started off sluggish allowing an early goal in the first half to put them behind.

The Raiders defense was without Captain Luis Gutierrez, which put added pressure on goalkeeper Barry Uko. A stingy keeper, Uko made many great saves deflecting a series of shots by the Condors strikers in the first half.
Raiders Head Coach Sean Roche attributed the Condors’ success to the versatility and determination of their forwards.

“They showed something we’d never seen,” said Roche. “Their forwards moved very well and it took us a while to adjust.”

The Raiders were outshot 7-2 in the first half, but Augustin Cazarez was able to tie the game during stoppage time at the end of the first half, bringing some hope back to the Raiders team.

The Condors put on the offensive in the second half, keeping Uko on his heels. Despite numerous saves by Uko, the Condors’ forwards were too much, scoring goals in the 55th minute and the 72nd minute.

The game got very physical and took a scary turn when Raiders forward Gerardo Espinoza and Condors goalkeeper Luis Gonzalez collided in the box. Espinoza was able to get up after a few minutes but Gonzalez had to be taken off the field on a cart.

Roche believed the competitiveness seemed to be turned up a notch because the players are so familiar with one another.

“It was a good-spirited game,” said Roche. “Everybody knows each other and it adds extra motivation.”

The Raiders added another goal in the 80th minute on a beautiful free kick by Jose Garcia, but it was not enough. Down 3-2, the Raiders let another goal slip by in stoppage time to put them down 4-2.

This loss is only their first in conference, but it takes a toll on the standings.

“We were 3-0 and now we have to prove we can stay on top,” said Roche. “This loss probably drops us to third.”