Down 2-0 in the first half v. a winless Orange Coast College squad, the Pasadena City College men's soccer team didn't get down on itself. Instead, the Lancers went back to its game plan of attack as Angel Nolasco scored three goals and Osmar Rojas added a goal and two assists in a 4-2 comeback victory Friday at Robinson Stadium.
The Lancers (3-2-1 overall) got into a hole v. OCC (0-4-2) when Devin La Clair headed in a free kick in the 21st minute, then Brady Powell took a short cross and redirected in into the corner of the net 1:14 later.
PCC roared back with Nolasco scoring on a penalty kick in the 28th minute, then Rojas tied it two minutes later as he accepted a cross by Juaning Balmelli and fired a blast from 11 yards out.
Just before halftime, Nolasco was sent out again on a PK after a Pirates handball in the box, but he was stoned this time on a diving stop by Pirates goalie Adam Guillen.
In the 54th minute, Lancers goalie Gabriel Ponce made a terrific save on a header by Qhawe Makaula, then got lucky as La Clair sailed a point-blank rebound deep near the goal-line over the bar.
With 13 minutes left, Rojas sent a pass to Nolasco, who placed a roller into the left corner of the net from the 5-yard line for a 3-2 PCC lead.
In the 83rd minute, Rojas sent a pass to Nolasco, who broke through the OCC defense and then circled around Guillen to tap in his third goal. Unlike hockey, not hats were thrown on to the field but the Lancers celebrated the sophomore defender's 3-goal performance.
"It took us a bit to get it together and respond, going down 2-0," said PCC head coach Francisco Cantero. "We switched Nolasco to a more attacking role and it paid off. To score four unanswered goals showed a lot of character by the players."
Rojas had an outstanding performance as well as the forward made several strong defensive plays while supplying support offensively on a team-high six shots.
The theme of the opposing goalie causing fits for the PCC offense continued as Guillen's PK stop was after making brilliant saves on James Baker's close-range rebound in the seventh minute and sliding to stop Alejandro Concepcion's breakaway at the 19-minute mark.
Ponce played well also in goal for PCC with five saves while midfielder Alexander Petrossians was stellar on the defensive end.
PCC next hosts LA Pierce on Tuesday, Sept. 19 in a 2 p.m. kickoff.
RECENT HAT TRICKS BY LANCERS
Angel Nolasco v. Orange Coast, Sept. 16, 2023
Esai Matchan v. East Los Angeles, Nov. 9, 2022
Irving Rosales v. El Camino, Nov. 4, 2011
