Ventura Posts Tie With Buena, 0-0

VENTURA —  Buena High forwards Chris Parkin and Brad Workman were leaving the field after the Bulldogs’ showdown with Ventura on Tuesday afternoon when Parkin jokingly said to Ventura goalkeeper Justin Carter’s mom, “Your son is lucky.”

Parkin couldn’t have put it any better.

Carter and Ventura dodged a bullet in a 0-0 tie in a Channel League game at Buena.

The Bulldogs dominated but were unlucky, with three of their shots bouncing off the post.

But none of it mattered to Carter because, lucky or not, Ventura (15-1-8, 2-0-6 in league play) captured the league title.

“Nothing like tying your way to a championship,” Ventura Coach Todd Tackett said. “Winning the Channel League wasn’t a goal of ours at the beginning of the season.”

Ventura’s first league title since 1986 didn’t materialize the way the Cougars had hoped. The Cougars didn’t have a shot in the first 22 minutes of each half.

Buena (12-6-5, 2-2-4) had more opportunities, but nothing else.

Workman hit the post twice off free kicks in a four-minute span midway through the first half. Midway through the second half, Jason Bradbury hit the crossbar on a shot inside the six-yard box.

“The post was their best player,” Buena Coach Sean Roche said. “(The post) didn’t like us. We had plenty of chances to win it. The boys fought hard. I thought we played well.”

Ventura, which has yielded five goals in league play, never folded against the high-powered Bulldogs. Buena outshot Ventura, 12-6.

Buena’s offense halted when Parkin left with a yellow card in the 29th minute and didn’t return until the second half.

“He (Parkin) doesn’t realize how important he is to this team,” Roche said.

“He doesn’t think he’s that important because he doesn’t score a lot of goals. He doesn’t see himself as one of the elite players.”

The Bulldogs regained their composure with Parkin on the field, but had difficulty scoring against Ventura’s stubborn defense, which blocked three shots.

Carter stopped two shots point blank.

“Our defense really stepped it up tonight,” said Tackett.