SUFC Team News #13 – Long Beach, CA
By Dan Minkoff
Momentum matters. So does consistency. Shoreline United FC is finally finding a bit of both.
After picking up a tie and its first win in its last two UPSL Premier games, Shoreline United now has a modest three-game unbeaten streak following an intense and well-played 1-0 victory over San Fernando Valley FC Sunday night at Long Beach City College.
San Fernando Valley, which entered the weekend in second place in the 11-team SoCal North division, suffered its first loss of the season and fell to 3-2-1 with 11 points. Shoreline United improved to 2-1-3 with 7 points. They moved up to eighth place and are now within one win of matching the point total of fourth place Laguna United FC, their next opponent.
Strong Lineup, Strong Performance
“It was an extremely, extremely entertaining game to watch and to be able to coach a high-level game, fantastic soccer,” said Shoreline United coach Eddie Soto. “We got that first goal, and I think things kind of opened up a little bit for us.”
Chris Martinez scored the game’s only goal in the 19th minute off an assist from Connor Borra. It was Martinez’s third goal in the last two games.
“Ever since the last two games, the tie and the win, it has just motivated, not only the team, but myself to give more today, especially this game, since they’re a hard opponent,” Martinez said. “Today was, again, we just needed to give it our all and to show off how strong we are, and we pulled it off.”
San Fernando Valley had the edge in possession and chances in the early part of the game, but Shoreline United titled the field in the other direction and started to gain an edge in possession and shots. San Fernando Valley responded with a series of fouls, amassing 14 in the first half and 21 for the game. Onesimus Bonat – San Fernando Valley’s biggest offensive threat – picked up a caution in the first half that would prove costly when another hard foul in the 58th minute earned him a second yellow and he was sent off, forcing his team to play the last half hour with 10 men.
“It’s a little bit of self-belief, right?” Soto said. “It's also the group we had tonight is a very strong group. Everybody has lives, so it's difficult to get everybody – myself included – here on the same night, and tonight we did. I think it shows what we're capable of. We have a very, very good group of players, and it was fun.”
First Shutout
While Shoreline United’s first shutout of the season was a team effort, the defense was anchored by co-captain Aaron Minkoff and Diego Venegas in the middle, flanked by Borra on the right and Zane Baumgardt on the left with Alpha Sowe providing nonstop running as the holding midfielder. Alan Solorio made his second straight start in goal.
Venegas – solid all game – stepped up smartly to win the ball and earn the foul that got Bonat sent off. Minkoff made a goal-line clearance in the 7th minute, heading a bouncing shot by Bonat over the crossbar and blocked another dangerous shot with an outstretched leg in the 79th minute. In addition to his assist, Borra made several key tackles in the second half while Baumgardt matched up against Bonat and kept him frustrated.
“The back line worked really well together,” Minkoff said. “It’s been on-and-off this season with new players coming in, and it’s finally starting to click. You can see that with the last two results we’ve had and I’m excited to keep the form up and go into the next game with momentum.”
Looking Ahead
This weekend, Shoreline United will travel to face fourth-place Laguna United FC (date, time and location TBD). Details, when available, will be available here. Independiente Los Angeles FC will come to Long Beach the following week to face Shoreline at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27 at the LBCC soccer fields.
Vamos Shoreline! #ForTheLBC
