The Pasadena City College men's soccer team can look back at missed opportunities during a streak that has resulted in three straight ties to finish the South Coast Conference season. The Lancers (10-4-6 overall) were tied by host Long Beach City College in the final minute and settled for a 2-2 tie in the conference crossover game Thursday afternoon.
PCC has three times seen late goals affect its record. State No. 1-ranked Mt. San Antonio used a goal in stoppage time to defeat the Lancers, 3-2, on Oct. 28. On Nov. 4, Pasadena let a 2-0 lead slip away as Rio Hondo scored the game-tying goal in the 88th minute for a 2-2 knot. And in the regular season finale, PCC had a 2-1 lead before Hector Rojo's free kick goal in the 90th minute again left the Lancers out of the win column.
Despite being snake-bit in those three games, the Lancers are on a 5-1-3 streak going into the playoffs. Under first-year head coach Henry Cabral, PCC expects to receive a seed in the SoCal Regional Playoffs, advancing to the postseason for the first time in three years.
In the Long Beach tie, Sarmeen Ibrahim knocked in a rebound of an initial shot by Artin Almary during the 26th minute to erase an early Vikings' lead at 1-1. PCC pulled ahead in the 55th minute when Avo Haroutunyan scored a goal after a corner kick by Jose Mancia.
Check this website and the official Twitter site of the Lancers @PCCAthletics for an announcement of the team's playoff seed and first round matchup.
[Photo--Lucas Rodriguez (white 4) looks on during the Lancers tie at Long Beach City College Thursday afternoon, image courtesy of LBCC Sports Information.]