Close Losses For PCC Men's Soccer

Alek Kaprielian in action at Santa Barbara City College (photo by Richard Quinton).
Alek Kaprielian in action at Santa Barbara City College (photo by Richard Quinton).

Ranked #10 in the opening sports information director's state poll, the Pasadena City College men's soccer team has since run into tough luck. The Lancers (3-2) lost their second straight game on Tuesday, allowing the winning goal by host Santa Barbara City College in the final minute, 4-3.

The Vaqueros' feat followed the end of the team's mini, 3-game win streak in a 1-0 loss at Saddleback on Sept. 3.

Against SBCC, PCC managed to tie it three times before a steal at the Lancers' 30-yard line by Gustavo Loera-Cardenas resulted in a goal in the 90th minute by Mario David Vega.

PCC tied it at 1-1 in the 15th minute when Diego Lazo fired a 15-yard shot on a pass by Ronaldo Garcia. It was Lazo's team-leading fourth goal. In the 58th minute, the Lancers knotted it at 2-2 when Garcia sent a cross to Alek Kaprielian who launched a 20-yard drive into the net.

In the 75th minute, the Lancers tied it one more time as Lazo dribbled to the middle and then dished a pass to Angel Ballesteros for an 8-yard blast.

"It was a tough one on the road again," said PCC head coach Francisco Cantero. "We did a very good job in creating great goals in the run of play only to give up the tie on mistakes we create. We played a good SBCC team and game was evenly matched, but we should have walked away with a draw for our efforts. We need to bounce back on Friday."

PCC visits Orange Coast College on Sept. 13 in a 4 p.m. match.