Ventura High boys' soccer coach Todd Tackett was still buzzing with excitement nearly an hour after the final whistle.
Abel Tadeo scored with 30 seconds remaining in stoppage time as Ventura rallied to tie visiting Santa Barbara 3-3 in a Channel League showdown on Tuesday night at Larrabee Stadium.
"Without a doubt, that was one of the top five high school soccer games I have ever been involved in," Tackett said. "It went back and forth the entire time. It was unreal."
The game between the CIF-Southern Section's top two Division II teams lived up to the billing. Santa Barbara (16-1-1, 0-0-1) is ranked No. 1 in the most recent poll while Ventura (13-3-3, 1-0-1) is ranked No. 2.
Peter Aguilar recorded a hat trick for Santa Barbara with goals in the 7th, 48th and 79th minutes. But Ventura had a counter for every Aguilar strike.
Andrew Creighton converted a throw in by Kevin Tanner at the near post in the 12th minute to tie the game 1-1. Corey Kindle beat the Santa Barbara keeper at the near post in the 54th minute on an assist from Tadeo.
After Aguilar's goal in the 79th minute, Tackett thought "You have got to be kidding me. We are going to lose this game."
But Tadeo didn't let it happen.
Just as the referee turned to Tackett and said there were about 30 seconds left, Tadeo received a pass from Creighton and cracked a shot from 25 yards out that dove into the right corner of the goal for the final equalizer.
"I am not lying there were probably 600 people at the game," Tackett said. "It was unbelievable."
Abel Tadeo scored with 30 seconds remaining in stoppage time as Ventura rallied to tie visiting Santa Barbara 3-3 in a Channel League showdown on Tuesday night at Larrabee Stadium.
"Without a doubt, that was one of the top five high school soccer games I have ever been involved in," Tackett said. "It went back and forth the entire time. It was unreal."
The game between the CIF-Southern Section's top two Division II teams lived up to the billing. Santa Barbara (16-1-1, 0-0-1) is ranked No. 1 in the most recent poll while Ventura (13-3-3, 1-0-1) is ranked No. 2.
Peter Aguilar recorded a hat trick for Santa Barbara with goals in the 7th, 48th and 79th minutes. But Ventura had a counter for every Aguilar strike.
Andrew Creighton converted a throw in by Kevin Tanner at the near post in the 12th minute to tie the game 1-1. Corey Kindle beat the Santa Barbara keeper at the near post in the 54th minute on an assist from Tadeo.
After Aguilar's goal in the 79th minute, Tackett thought "You have got to be kidding me. We are going to lose this game."
But Tadeo didn't let it happen.
Just as the referee turned to Tackett and said there were about 30 seconds left, Tadeo received a pass from Creighton and cracked a shot from 25 yards out that dove into the right corner of the goal for the final equalizer.
"I am not lying there were probably 600 people at the game," Tackett said. "It was unbelievable."
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