URGENT UPDATE: The College of the Canyons Cougars delivered a spectacular 6-2 victory over Citrus College on November 3, 2023, during their highly anticipated annual Sophomore Night. This win marks a season-high for the Cougars, who showcased offensive prowess with 26 shots, dominating the field in their final home game of the season.
The Cougars, now boasting a record of 5-11-3 overall and 3-6 in conference play, celebrated their five graduating sophomores before the match. Honorees included Diego Briseno, Steven Garcia, Juandiego Rodriguez, Jeffrey Contreras, and Leon Mikailian, all recognized for their contributions to the program over the past two seasons.
The game kicked off with a scoreless first half, but the Cougars quickly broke the deadlock just after halftime. In the 47th minute, Ivan Omana scored his first goal of the season, assisted by Andrew Sorto, setting the tone for a thrilling second half. Just a minute later, Omana struck again, extending the lead to 2-0 with help from Carlos Mendez.
Citrus College responded with a goal from Kevin Cardenas in the 61st minute, narrowing the gap to 2-1. However, the Cougars quickly regained control as Contreras netted his first goal of the season in the 73rd minute, pushing the score to 3-1. Cardenas answered back with a second goal shortly after, keeping Citrus in contention at 3-2.
The momentum shifted back to Canyons as Rodriguez scored twice within minutes, first in the 74th minute with an assist from Justin Assadi and again in the 87th minute, aided by Mikailian. Mikailian capped off the scoring in the 90th minute, solidifying the Cougars’ commanding 6-2 victory.
In goal, Jonathan Mazon started the match with two saves, while David Zendejas, who entered in the second half, secured the win. Citrus goalkeeper AJ Baragan put forth a valiant effort, recording nine saves despite the barrage of goals.
With this emphatic win, the Cougars improved their home record to 4-4-2 for the season. Looking ahead, the team is set to face Santa Monica College in their season finale on Wednesday, where they aim to build on this momentum.
Stay tuned for more updates as the Cougars continue their journey to finish the season strong!
