Cougars Earn 3-0 Home Win Over Citrus College

By Alexis Quevedo/COC Sports Information

College of the Canyons picked up an important 3-0 home victory vs. Citrus College on Friday night to even out its conference record and build momnetum for the season's final stretch..

Canyons (3-9-1, 1-1-0) struggled to secure possessions early in the match in a back-and-forth bout for the ball. That was until COC sophomore midfielder Drew Leskin chipped a cross to freshman Midfielder Nils Niwe Nsbimana who secured a touch on the ball as a header despite being heavily defended by two oncoming Citrus defenders. That sequence secured the Cougars first goal of the half at 1-0 in the 26th minute. 

In the second half the Cougars active offense proved to be too much for the Citrus (2-7-3, 0-2-0)

defensive backfield. Leskin contributed a promising strike of his own with 38 minutes remaining in the second half that nearly found the back of the net but instead bounced off the crossbar.

The Cougars' high pressing defense held Citrus to just four shots in the game compared to 11 shots from Canyons.

COC was back in Citrus territory when freshman midfielder Tom Larcier made a statement of a goal at a left side angle that glided past Citrus goalkeeper Alberto Orozco in the 53rd minute improving the Canyons advantage at 2-0. 

The Cougars' third and final goal was assisted by freshman Alec Fryer who crossed the ball to freshman Dimitri Markikta who laned a header straight into the back of the net in the 89th minute for the final 3-0 score.

Canyons returns to action Tuesday, Oct. 18 for a Western State Conference, South Division match at Antelope Valley College. That contest is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. 

Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

—Photo by Kyle Kawamoto/COC Sports Information