Compton Shocks Nation's #1 El Camino In SCC Men's Soccer Opener

The Compton College men's soccer team opened its South Coast Conference schedule with a stunner. Host Compton surprised defending 3C2A state champion and current nationally-ranked #1 El Camino, 1-0, on Tuesday and in the process snapped the Warriors' 31-game undefeated streak (29-0-2) going back to last year.

Unranked Compton (5-2-2 record) scored in the 32nd minute on a goal by returning All-Conference forward Hugo Reyes, assisted by Bryan Espita.

Compton goalie Alessandro Martinez made it stand up with seven saves for the first shutout of a ECC team since Nov. 4, 2022 in a 0-0 tie v. Long Beach during the SCC Tournament that season. El Camino had gone 37 consecutive matches of reaching the scoreboard at least once.

ECC's Marvin Gamez, last year's US Soccer Coaches National Player of the Year, fired six shots at the Compton goal but none got by Martinez. The 5-foot-9 freshman netminder is now 12th in the state in goals against average with a stingy 0.75 allowed per contest. 

The Compton defense recorded its fourth shutout of the season helped by defenders Brandon Ceja, Daniel Sandoval, Edson Castro, and Jovanny Lopez. 

Compton is 11th in SoCal Region Power Points rating that determines the region's playoff seeds at the end of the regular season. Seven of the top 12 teams thus far are members of the 10-squad, South Coast as Compton is the only South Division team with a victory in SCC openers. 

Coach Jose Garcia's team returns to action on Friday, Oct. 11 when Compton hosts current CCCSIA state #1 (sports information directors poll) Mt. San Antonio, undefeated this season at 8-0-3. Kickoff is 4 p.m.

Hugo Reyes (11) battles for the ball

Photos courtesy of Roberta Camacho