Skyline’s Men’s soccer team defeated the Contra Costa Comets 3-1 in its Sept. 6 game after a dominate first half performance and two goals from freshman midfielder Kadin Nutt.

Coming into the game, Contra Costa had been outscored in its first three matches 23-1. Their previous game against Santa Rosa saw them give up 12 unanswered goals.

From the opening whistle, Skyline had most of the possession as they attacked down on both sides of the wings. This style of play was working early on as it kept the Comets line of defense to play more back making Skyline push up.

Starting goalie for Skyline, Julio Martin also made his presence felt despite being pedestrian and early on. Martin was guiding his team from the back letting them be aware of the space they had in front of them.

Skyline forward, Marcos Alvarez was able to keep the pressure on in the 13th minute as he blasted past the Comets left back but his cross couldn’t be met inside the 18-yard box.

The breakthrough goal came from midfielder Leonardo Sanchez in the 20th minute after just beating the Comets goalie, Orlando Perez, on a low cross that was driven in by Erik Arias.

Arias had quite a sequence minutes after his assist as he was tripped up hard by Comets defender Devin Martinez. After play resumed, Arias had a great look at adding a second goal for his team, yet his shot went high & wide right.

The best chance that Contra Costa had for the entire first half came from Ryan Fretwell. The Comets defender showed he doesn’t have the striker touch as a perfect pass got tangled up at his feet while inside the 18. Fretwell, visibly upset, slammed the turf with his hands and ended up fouling Arias on the other side of the pitch.

With ten minutes left in the half Skyline took control of the match after Nutt got his first two goals in a Skyline shirt. The American Canyon product got his first from a chip shot that went over Martinez and into an empty net. Nutt’s second was another empty netter that was headed in at the back post.

“I thought we kept the ball pretty well and looking dangerous and getting balls in behind.” said Skyline assistant coach Joe Rousseau, looking to get his team back into the game. Rousseau was the man guiding Skyline as head coach Gabriel Saucedo was out due to illness.

At the start of the second half Contra Costa tried everything they could to get some offensive momentum going. And with a couple of fouls committed by Skyline close to the penalty area, it seemed as if a goal was near.

“Settle Down! Settle Down!” was the message from Rousseau to his team following the adversity that Contra Costa set in the first ten minutes. Skyline responded well to their coach’s demands as they got some more possession going in their half and made the Comets work for the ball.

Contra Costa were able to avoid a shutout in the 79th minute after Elizier Musah slid it pass goalie Christian Medina who came on for Martin at the start of the second half. However, the Comets late push was not enough as they couldn’t get any more shots on target.

Without Saucedo at the helm and in only their second game of the season Skyline’s effort showed out.

“I felt we moved the ball well. Our team chemistry is starting to get their slowly.” said Nutt following his two-goal performance. “We’ve been working really hard in practice, so I think it’s coming together pretty well.”

Skyline’s next test is to come as their following three games will come on the road before coming back home to face American River on Sept. 24.