Playing in the most difficult league in the state--the South Coast Conference--the Pasadena City College men's soccer team has learned there is no room for breakdowns. Opponents have been quick striking on offense and while the Lancers have had their own moments of strong play, it's been a learning experience for them.
The Lancers (6-7-4 overall) dropped to 1-4-2 in SCC play, rallying but falling short in a 3-2 loss to Rio Hondo Wednesday at Robinson Stadium.
"We can't seem to put it together at the right times," said PCC head coach Francisco Cantero. "It's a mostly freshmen team, but our mistakes have cost us. We seem to play our best soccer late in games, so we are searching to play the complete 90 minutes with the type of intensity and execution we have to do to keep up with these other talented conference teams."
Against Rio Hondo, the Roadrunners jumped out to a 3-0 lead before the Lancers roared back on Jorge Cedillo's fifth penalty kick goal of the season (he leads the team with eight goals) in the 79th minute. Then Eduardo Sanchez made a turnaround shot and goal off a header pass by James Baker to cut the score to one in the 89th minute.
The Lancers ran out of time in the home defeat.
On Friday, Oct. 26, PCC appeared it was about to upset host and state #13-ranked Cerritos, but the Falcons scored in the 90th minute as the Lancers settled for a 2-2 tie.
Trailing 1-0, Cedillo's PK goal tied it a minute before halftime. In the 60th minute, Angel Ballesteros assisted on Martin Ceja's goal on a 10-yard drive for a 2-1 lead. But it was Miguel Gonzalez getting the tying goal. While five more minutes of "injury time" followed, neither team could make a tie-breaking score.
Pasadena is 0-3-1 at Cerritos since last winning at the Norwalk campus in 2016. Goalie Matthew Gilmore made six saves for PCC. The Lancers did down the Falcons in 2019, 4-2 at Robinson Stadium.
On Oct. 17, PCC suffered its worst defeat of the season, 6-0 at Mt. San Antonio.
On Friday, Oct. 27, the Lancers host East Los Angeles College on Sophomore Day at Robinson Stadium. Kickoff is 4 p.m.