The Brahmas won their season finale with a 3-1 score against the Oxnard College Condors on Friday, Nov. 15. Their season record was 5-13.
For Head Coach Julio Castillo, it was a “well deserved win” for the team, which started two years ago after the program was shelved for 43 years.
“They worked hard. They gave everything they had for this program,” said Castillo, who mentioned the sophomores on the team. “It was a special day for them. I think they deserve it. They deserve to go out with a win.”
This marks the season finale for men’s soccer, which begins again in August 2025.
Their strategy, according to Castillo, was to play defensively and to create opportunities offensively against the Condors.
Assistant Coach Julian Lopez described the Brahmas strategy as parking the bus and playing counter. Parking the bus is a play which involves defending “without trying to attack, with almost all of the players on the team staying deep inside their own half of the field,” according the Cambridge Dictionary.
Forward Victor Cano felt better in this game than he did in the first game against the Condors.
For Cano, his mindset during the game was to “press hard” and keep pressing on Oxnard.
“When we played last time, every time we pressed they were a little scared,” said Cano, who scored twice in the first half and once more in the final minutes of the second half. “So if we played it like we played the first time, we’d go down good.”
Goalkeeper Tony Ramirez was “ecstatic” and “over the moon” about the win.
“In my head, I don’t feel nothing but me and the ball,” said Ramirez, a civil engineering major who was able to block the Condors’ advances throughout the game. “ [And] trying to stay focused to give my team the best chance to win.”
Lopez, who has been coaching the Brahmas for two years, felt good about the game, and stated how the team stuck to the game plan and how it worked for them.
“There have been growing pains throughout the season,” Lopez said. “Overall the season wasn’t what we expected. We expected better, but at least we get to get this win at the end.”
During halftime, a sophomore night ceremony was held for those Brahmas who were graduating before the start of the new season in August.
“We just wanted to honor them today because it is a good group of kids,” said Castillo, who used the time to thank the outgoing sophomores for what they’ve done for the soccer program. “I was blessed to start the program with good, humble, hard working kids, and we wanted to make sure that they enjoy today.”
Cano, a sophomore and kinesiology major, felt good about the ceremony.
“I’m excited to transfer, get on with my life and do something else,” said Cano, who is looking to transfer close to home.
Castillo is looking forward to the next season and feels “lucky to be here and share this special time with these guys.”