UPDATE: College of the Canyons (COC) celebrated an electrifying 6-2 victory over Citrus College on November 3, 2023, during their annual Sophomore Night. The Cougars showcased their strongest performance of the season, scoring a remarkable six goals at COC’s home field, marking their last home game of the year.
The Cougars (5-11-3, 3-6) improved their home record to 4-4-2 as the coaching staff honored five standout 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 after a scoreless first half, with Ivan Omana netting his first goal of the season just two minutes into the second half, assisted by Andrew Sorto, putting the Cougars ahead 1-0. Omana struck again moments later, extending the lead to 2-0 in the 48th minute with help from Carlos Mendez.
Citrus (1-18-1, 1-8) responded in the 61st minute when Kevin Cardenas scored, narrowing the gap to 2-1. Yet, COC quickly regained momentum with Contreras scoring his first goal of the season in the 73rd minute, pushing the score to 3-1. The Owls again answered back with Cardenas’s second goal, making it 3-2.
The Cougars continued their offensive onslaught with Rodriguez adding two goals—first in the 74th minute, assisted by Justin Assadi, and then again in the 87th minute, courtesy of Mikailian. Mikailian capped off the scoring frenzy with a goal in the final minute, solidifying the Cougars’ commanding 6-2 win.
COC goalkeeper Jonathan Mazon started the match, recording two saves, while David Zendejas (3-8) played the second half and secured the win. The Cougars unleashed a season-high 26 shots, with 17 on target, and earned nine corners. Citrus goalie AJ Baragan faced a barrage of shots, making an impressive nine saves despite the loss.
As the Cougars look ahead, they are scheduled to close out their season with a critical matchup against Santa Monica College on Wednesday. Fans are eager to see if this victory will propel the team into a strong finish.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Cougars as they aim for a strong conclusion to their season.
