The Bakersfield Brigade are set play their 2nd season league game on Saturday, as they travel down to La Mirada to face the Southern California Seahorses in a 7:00 pm match at La Mirada High School. Both teams head into this weekend’s match with a 1-0 record.
The Brigade defeated the San Diego Gauchos 3-1 on May 7th. Defender Kyle Gookins scored the first goal for the Brigade in the 11th minute of play off a corner kick. Gookins headed a shot past Gauchos Keeper Sergio Saccoccio into the back of the net. Kyle’s performance in the game earned him a spot on this week’s USL’s PDL team of the week. In the 20th minute of play, the Brigade was awarded a Penalty Kick and Midfielder Matt O’Sullivan (CSUB) stepped up and chipped in the 2nd goal that gave the Brigade a 2-1 lead. It wasn’t until the 86th minute that the final goal of the game was made. Brigade Midfielder Johnathon Solorzano (Fresno Pacific) cleaned up a shot that was struck by Brigade Midfielder Brennan Tennelle (UCSB) which hit the post and bounce to the feet of Solorzano who then blasted it into the net for the 3rd and final goal of the game.
The Seahorses also earned a “w” in week one as they defeated the California Gold 4-0 on Saturday May 6th. The game was scoreless until Seahorse Forward Christian Russ (Biola University) opened up the second half and scored twice in the 50th and 67th minutes of the match. In the 70th minute of play, the Seahorses were awarded a Penalty Kick and Forward Josh Hansen (USF) stepped up and made it a 3-0 game. Finishing up the scoring for the Seahorses Jared Thornton (The Masters) put way the 4th goal in the 81st minute of play. All three scorers are new to the Seahorse club this year.
The Brigade will be looking to get a few new players some game time this weekend, as Midfielder Mohammad Mashriqi and Frank Alesci (both players from Long Island University) have joined the team this week. Also joining the team this week is Moises “Moi” Gomez (CSUN) and Javier Cervantes, both players are returnees from the 2005 Brigade squad.
In other news, 2005 Brigade player Fabian Sandoval, who is playing professional this year with the Miami FC, scored the franchise’s very first official goal on Tuesday May 9th on the road against Charleston Battery. Miami FC is a new franchise playing their inaugural season this year in the USL’s First Division. Sandoval’s goal has secured his name forever, in Miami FC’s history books. The goal was also awarded the USL’s “Goal of the Week” honors.
The Brigade is a PDL soccer team, playing within the United Soccer Leagues’ PDL Southwestern Conference which is made up of nine teams throughout California.
