Culver City Observer -

By Rob Aigner

Sports Reporter

What a difference seven days can make. The Culver City boys soccer team started the week of January 27th undefeated in league play with a 5-0-1 record and in complete control of their destiny to win the Ocean League. Unfortunately, they ended it with their second straight double over time tie (ending 0-0) this time against a very defensive Lawndale team and then a painful 3-1 loss to new league leader El Segundo last Friday.

Their record is now 5 wins, 2 ties and 1 loss putting them firmly in 2nd place in the league 4 points behind the El Segundo Eagles. To win the league now the Centaurs will not only have to win their last two games of the season (February 3rd away at Hawthorne and February 5th at home vs Beverly Hills) but will also need El Segundo to lose in order to have even a remote chance of winning the league outright.

The El Segundo game was the win the squad needed to maintain control of the league. Culver beat the Eagles handily in their opening match up January 15th by a score of 3-0 at Chabola Stadium.

But, the second meeting of the season was a different story as the Eagles came to their home turf with their talons fully ready for battle. They were the more physical team, the more aggressive team, they won more loose balls and then they won the game.

"The boys battled today," said Centaurs coach Mike Castillo after the El Segundo game. "The effort was there but we couldn't overcome some of our own mistakes. I don't know if it was the aggression of El Segundo or the pressure that we put on ourselves to secure the league title. Either way, we just got beat today" said coach Mike Castillo.

Assuming the Centaurs make the CIF playoffs, which is a very strong likelihood, they will have another chance to dig down and see if they can recapture the dominance that they displayed in the first six games of the season.

Once the playoffs start, as is often said, it's win or go home. Culver City has the talent and ability to make a deep run in the playoffs but they need to regain their form quickly.

If time truly does heal all wounds, then let's see if the last two games of the season and another week can help heal a few self-inflicted ones.