Bakersfield, Calif., July 23, 2005 – The Bakersfield Brigade closed their inaugural season strong with a dominating 4-1 victory over the California Gold at Bakersfield Christian High School on Saturday. Dominating might be an understatement, as the Brigade held the Gold scoreless for 85 minutes straight, with the Gold recording only four total shots on goal for the game.

Striking first in the 5th minute of play, Gold forward Boronil Koochoie, split two Brigade defenders and found himself on-on-one with Brigade keeper Vincent Licciardi. Koochoie took the shot as Licciardi began his challenge and scored, as the shot was just out of Licciardi’s reach.

The Brigade answered back with a score of their own, as a “hand ball” foul was called on a Gold player and was consequently called inside of the Gold’s box. The Brigade was awarded a penalty kick for the foul and for the third consecutive game, Brigade defender Jason Doss Carter was “money in the bank!” “I knew I wasn’t going to miss. I never missed them in college, nor in the playoffs. I had a streak going and it wasn’t going to end in our last game, and certainly not at home” stated Carter.  The score came in the 25th minute of play and tied the game at 1-1.

Next to score for the Brigade was Matt O’Sullivan. In the 37th minute of play, Brigade forward Johnny Carson crossed the ball from the left side to O’Sullivan who was left alone in the middle of the box and blasted it by Gold’s keeper, Brian Wickers. With that goal, the Brigade took a 2-1 lead into the half.  

 
In the second half of the game both teams struggle to find their offense. But in the 85 minute of play, Brigade forward Lyle Martin fed Midfielder Jonathan Solórzano at about the 18 yd line and Solórzano found himself in a one-on-one situation with the Wickers. Solórzano then waited for the challenge by Wickers who then forced Solórzano to his left, but Solórzano made a great move, juked Wickers and basically walked in the 3rd scored of the night for the Brigade (note: Solórzano’s a 2005 graduate from North Bakersfield High School).

The last score of the night came in the 87th minute of play when Brigade defender Javier Barba blasted a shot into the Gold’s box; the ball ricocheted off a Gold player and ended up at the back of the net. A surprising Wickers never saw it coming, and with just a couple of minutes to play, the Brigade held on to take the 4-1 victory and ended their 2005 inaugural season winning 4 of their last 5 games.