The De Anza College Dons men’s soccer team won 2-1 at home against the Foothill Owls on Oct. 19, marking their sixth win in as many games. The rematch improved the Dons’ overall record to 7-6-3 and to 5-0 in division play.
Chad Thompson, with assistance from Humberto Pineda, scored the Dons’ first goal in the second half of the game, with the second goal scored only minutes later by Francisco Uribe. Thompson’s goal was his fifth this season and Uribe’s his second.
The Dons’ last meeting with the Owls, on Sept. 25, extended a seven game winless streak to eight as they lost 0-4 and dropped their record to 1-6-2. In addition, De Anza’s goalkeeper Aliou Diallo was given a red card in the game and was ejected from play in the fortieth minute.
This game was followed by a tie at Hartnell College and then five wins in a row.
“Nobody told us we were not supposed to win, nobody,” said Noel Vera, a Dons player.
At the beginning of the season, the Dons’ inexperience proved a handicap, but slowly they were able to build a team dynamic. October started out with two strong wins, followed by an important victory against West Valley.
On Oct. 19, the Dons took the field against Foothill for the rematch they had been waiting a month for. The Dons are ranked 15th nationwide, and Foothill 10th, in the NSCAA coaches’ poll.
Both teams played very a physical game and the first half ended without any goals scored. De Anza was the first to put a ball in the net in the game’s second half.
Minutes later, this one goal lead was stretched to two when Uribe made an unassisted score, his second goal of the season.
Having taken the lead, the Dons shifted their strategy from full offensive attack to ball control and clock management.
The Owls would come back to score one goal, but it would not be enough as the Dons won their sixth game in a row.
The Dons will try to extend their winning streak to seven games next Friday, Nov. 2, at home against West Valley at 4 p.m.