Santana and Jaimes Net Goals as Warriors Open Season with Win over Citrus

TORRANCE, Calif. – El Camino College won one game all last season and had a hard time finding the back of the net most of the year. If game one is indication, those troubles could be long gone.

Jason Santana and Reyes Jaimes each netted a goal and Rene Escobar assisted on both tallies as the Warriors held on for a 2-1 victory over visiting Citrus in the 2017 season opener Friday afternoon at Murdock Stadium.

The Warriors (1-0-0) offense peppered the Owls defense with 23 shots including five on net against Citrus goalkeeper Jorge Quinones. In the first 17 minutes of the match, the Warriors unloaded five shots at the Citrus goal and hit the post on their first opportunity of the match, a sliding attack by Brian Burrell in the second minute that hit the right post and stayed out.

In the 18th minute, the Warriors tenacity paid off as Escobar threaded the needle through the Citrus defense with a low pass that found Santana and he beat the keeper to the right side to put the Warriors up 1-0.

The Warriors would not score again in the first half but dominated the period nonetheless, outshooting the Owls 13-5 in the opening 45 minutes.

After the second-half whistle blew to start the final period, the Warriors continued to be relentless with two golden chances early including a shot by Santana that hit the crossbar just one minute into the half. The second chance proved to be the golden one though as Jaimes scored with a header off a cross from Escobar on the near side, beating Quinones and making it 2-0 for ECC.

That was enough for Warriors goalkeeper Cesar Amezcua as he made three saves on the day in net for his first win of the season.

The Warriors will return to action on Tuesday, Aug. 29 as they host Orange Coast College at ECC. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. and is part of a doubleheader with the women's soccer team's season opener, also against OCC at 2 p.m.