The following article is editorial in nature and was written by G.P. Scheppler, the Sports Information Specialist, Cabrillo Athletics.
APTOS - It wasn't the last game of the season.
It wasn't a win or go home scenario.
Try telling that to the men's soccer team as they put down the visiting Hartnell College Panthers, 2-0, in Carl Conelly Stadium to bring their record to 5-3-2 in conference and 8-6-3 overall.
After seeing flashes of what this team could accomplish all year, last night's spectators got the chance to see it all come together.
Magnificent football played clean and fast by veracious midfielders, tough physical defenders, deadly forwards, and a stalwart goalie.
Now, coach Paulo Carbone and his squad must maintain that focus as they close out the final two games of their regular season.
Holding on to this momentum, and using it to maintain this peak level of play as they enter the postseason tournament.
The final home game of Coast Conference play will be on Tuesday afternoon against Skyline College (4-4-2, 6-6-4), at 2 p.m.
The game will be streamed live at facebook.com/cabrilloseashawks
Tensions flared early in the first half when play was whistled dead instants before a Panther (6-3-1, 9-6-2) blasted a goal in from the top of the endzone.
In a season in which officiating has often been... a storyline, the Seahawks finally caught a break.
It would be the last time the Panthers would have the hopes of a goal as freshman goalie Carlos Salazar became a brick wall between the posts registering his fourth shutout of the season.
Enter Matteo Vari, a freshman forward from Rome Italy, a man who has already demonstrated his elite ability to find the back of the net.
With a flick of his foot, Vari scored what proved to be the game-winning goal mere minutes into the first half.
From that point on the Seahawks played hands down their best football of the season with lock down defense and steady offensive pressure.
With crisp passes the Seahawks maintained possession, drawing out their advantage and limiting their opponent's chances to score.
From behind the lens, it was clear to see the Seahawks with the ball actively looking downfield for an open teammate, deftly laying the ball just in reach of their teammates but out of those of the opponents.
With 12 minutes to play in regulation, sophomore midfielder Oscar Esqueda burst through the defense up the middle of the field before juking the charging goalie and two defenders to smash in the final nail in the coffin.
As the ecstatic midfielder sprinted into the corner, leaping into the air in celebration he was met by sophomore Brandon Kim.
That's it, that's all folks.
Thank you for coming out.
A perfect moment in any rivalry game made all the more magical by the presence of the Seahawks bench players warming up behind the endzone.
Esqueda's goal not only salted away the victory, it chemically fused this roster as the postseason tournament draws ever nearer.
You can see it in the pictures.
On a cold foggy night in Aptos, the winning formula proved to be two brilliant goals and a gutsy shutout performance.
This team is ready to take flight.
