The Mariners took the long road to Ukiah on Tuesday and were rewarded with an excellent 3-2 victory over the Eagles of Mendocino College. The Mariners rallied from an early deficit to take the lead, only to draw even before putting the game away for good in the second half. Marin had three goals from three different players and had excellent goalkeeping by two different Mariners' keepers.
Marin started out on the back foot as Mendocino was the more aggressive side at the opening whistle. The Eagles found the breakthrough as Micah Carrizales scored off a pass from Jorge Morales to take a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute. COM showed their resiliency by playing more offensively after the opening goal. Jason De Leon bagged the equalizer for the Mariners in the 40th minute. Joe Maldonado set him up, and De Leon finished to draw even at 1-1. Just four minutes later Alex Schten fed Alejandro Gonzalez Flores who deftly beat the keeper for a 2-1 Marin lead at the break.
Angel Colli started in goal for Marin and allowed just one goal in the first half. Colin Sneddon took over between the sticks to begin the second half.
Five minutes into the second half Juan Velazco of Mendocino picked off a pass and beat Sneddon to tie the game at 2-2. The score remained the same for around twenty minutes of play. Both teams had their opportunities but neither was able to regain the lead. That changed in the 69th minute as Johnathan Blanco took a pass from Joseph Ndungu and found the back of the net to give the Mariners a 3-2 advantage.
The home team pressed on, looking for the equalizer, but Sneddon held strong in goal as did the Mariners defense as the team held on for the victory.
It was their first win since September 15th at Gavilan College and their second result in conference play after drawing with Mendocino at home on September 29th.
"Great result today!," said head coach Michael Crivello "Going on the road and getting a win against a tough Mendocino team, will hopefully give us some momentum and confidence, as we head into the home stretch of the season."
The Mariners have two days to recover and train before hosting Contra Costa College on Friday, October 20th at 4PM.