The men’s soccer team went down a goal early in the game, but recovered quickly to overwhelm Chabot College in a 7-1 romp in Hayward on Thursday.

After the team’s third straight win, Contra Costa College (4-1-1 overall) is tied for first place in the Bay Valley Conference standings in non-conference play with Napa Valley College.

“Once they scored it was like a wake up call,” Comet striker Bryan Vega, who tallied one goal and assist, said. “We knew we were the better team and started to play like we normally do and the floodgates opened.”

The Comets outshot the Gladiators (2-3 overall) five to one with 17 and 3 shot totals respectively.

While Gladiator striker German Villalobos managed to sneak in a goal at nine minutes into the game, due to a defensive error, the Comets rewrote the storyline before the end of the first half by scoring four goals in 23 minutes.

Comet striker Pedro Rodriguez provided a brace within this time by scoring two goals at minutes 19, and 30.

These goals were assisted by Comet right back Alejandro Gonzalez who lobbed passes into the penalty area from the attacking right wing. Gonzalez finished the game with three assists.

Center midfielders Jesus Villagrana and Jorge Avina also added to the 4-1 score at halftime when they found the back of the net at minutes 25 and 42.

“There was a point we knew we won,” Villagrana said. “When we scored the third goal it was still an open game, (the Gladiators) were pushing back (offensively). But after we scored the fourth they put their heads down and you could tell (the Gladiators) gave up.”

The offensive onslaught continued into the second half when Avina’s pass into the box connected with Villagrana’s forehead to loft the ball over Gladiator goalkeeper Gustavo Rodriguez, who had come off the goal line, and dip under the crossbar into the right side of the goal at minute 70.

Comet strikers Bryan Santos and Vega finished the route with goals at 82 and 51 minutes.

Gonzalez and Rodriguez assisted these goals, respectively.

The goal at minute 51 marked a 5-1 score. Rodriguez said he had made a run down along the right side of the field to receive a diagonal pass sent from center field.

“I sprinted to the ball toward the end line while a defender was right behind me,” he said. “But I beat him to (the ball) and sent a line drive cross to (Vega).

“I didn’t really have time to think where I sent (the pass) exactly as I was falling down.  I thought he was going to score with his foot, but (Vega) finished with a diving header instead.”

Comet coach Nikki Ferguson said unlike the 6-1 loss against Modesto Junior College on Sept. 4, the Comets made the best of their chances and put the game away before the second half.

“We played some good soccer and took advantage of opportunities,” Ferguson said. “The onslaught of goals against (Butte College) last week carried over.”

CCC’s subsequent game was played Tuesday at City College of San Francisco. The results can be found on cccaasports.org.

The team’s next home match is Friday at 4 p.m. against Lake Tahoe Community College.

“We are looking forward to the challenge, but we have to show that we are capable of competing with the top soccer programs in Northern California,” Ferguson said. “Evergreen Valley College (Aug. 29) and Modesto JC were challenges, and these games against CCSF and Lake Tahoe (College) won’t be any different.”