Lapses Lead to Loss for Culver City

The Culver City High Centaurs fell 4-2 to El Segundo on day two of the South Torrance Holiday Tournament, allowing all four goals on set pieces—a stat that Coach Dave Sanchez believes reveals much about a team that is learning much through the preseason and preparing for Ocean League play.

"While that shows that our concentration and sticking to assignments is lacking, I do believe we have the skill and players to compete," Sanchez said.

The Centaurs fell into a 2-0 hole in the first half—El Segundo scored off a corner kick midway through, and then put a direct kick past goalie Edgar Castillo with 12 minutes left.

The teams went into halftime with the score at 2-0, and the Centaurs were able to cut the Eagles lead to one when Rayburn Tilman at midfield found Christian Campos for a header off a set piece.

But less than five minutes later, the Eagles would score again. The Centaurs were unable to clear the ball on their end and El Segundo extended its lead to 3-1.

"We're a young team, and as many young teams tend to be, we are vulnerable after scoring and they took advantage of a slippery ball we couldn't clear," Sanchez said.

Near the end of the second half, Campos would score a second goal off a penalty kick, again bringing the Centaurs to within one. But El Segundo would tack on an insurance goal at the end of the match for a 4-2 final in a consolation bracket.

"I'm disappointed by the loss, but not the effort.  The mistakes we're making are correctable ones and I'm encouraged by some of the things we did," Sanchez said.

The 4-2 loss was the Centaurs (2-6-2) second this season to El Segundo. The Eagles beat Culver City 3-2 earlier this month.

Sanchez was happy to get quality minutes from sophomores Jerry Grande, Joey Sukal and Jon Prestridge, whose play was a highlight for the Centaurs.

"Our biggest weakness is defending set pieces.  We need to stick with our man and matchup as well as be physical when it's needed.  We tend to follow the ball and lose track of our assignment," Sanchez said.

Culver City has games against South Torrance, Palos Verdes, Torrance and Bishop Montgomery remaining before Ocean League play begins in mid-January.

"I like the skill on this team, it's imperative that we limit our mistakes and keep improving.  The preseason is about preparation and we'll continue to do that," Sanchez said.