Three-way tie for first in LPL after top four teams battle to draws

Posted: Jan 15, 2013 6:45 PM by Andrew Masuda
Updated: Jan 15, 2013 7:51 PM

Nipomo, Santa Ynez soccer battle to 3-3 draw

A back and forth battle between defending Los Padres League co-champion Santa Ynez and Nipomo boys soccer ended in a 3-3 draw on Tuesday. Santa Ynez stayed in a tie for first place in the league standings after Morro Bay and Cabrillo finished in a 0-0 draw.

Host Nipomo took an early lead with a ninth minute goal from Caleb Doane on a ball assisted by Jesus Valdez. The goal gave Nipomo a 1-0 lead into halftime. Santa Ynez tied it in the 46th minute on a goal from Diego Gutierrez. The Titans regained the lead in the 55th minute when Ben Jimenez assisted Brian Araujo on a score. The Pirates responded about ten minutes later tying it at 2-2. Aaron Robles found Doane for the senior's second goal of the game and 11th of the season to give Nipomo a 3-2 lead in the 79th minute. The game included seven minutes of stoppage time and it allowed Santa Ynez to tie it 3-3 on a penalty kick right before the end of regulation. Neither teams scored in the overtime periods resulting in the draw.

The Titans, who struggled early in the season, are 2-2-2 in league and 8-7-4 overall. Nipomo has gone 3-0-2 in the last few weeks. Santa Ynez is now 4-1-1 in league and 5-4-3 overall.

Red-hot Morro Bay had a first half goal from Joel Wilkie waved off due to an infraction in a match with Cabrillo that ended in a scoreless tie. The junior Wilkie fired a shot off the crossbar late in the game with the Pirates' sixth and final shot on goal in the match. The Morro Bay defense held the Cabrillo offense to zero shots on goal.

Morro Bay and Cabrillo are both 4-1-1 in LPL action and in a three-way tie for first with Santa Ynez.

Thursday, Morro Bay hosts Templeton, Santa Maria heads to Nipomo and Cabrillo hosts rival Lompoc. Santa Ynez returns to action Friday in a non-league game at home against Dunn.