Facing the prospect of being held scoreless for the seventh time this season and desperate to end a 7-game winless streak, the Pasadena City College men's soccer team faced its match in Compton College on Tuesday. The Tartars came into the South Coast Conference game with an 8-game winless streak and had been shut out in nine games.
It almost seemed fitting that their game was tied 0-0 as the Robinson Stadium scoreboard clock was turned off at the 2-minute mark (referee is the official timer) left in the game. Rather than becoming a punchline, the Lancers switched the script as reserve striker Mark Dagher took a breakaway lead pass from Kareem Browne and rifled in the winning goal in a 1-0 PCC victory.
Pasadena won its first SCC game of the season (1-5-1) and improved to 5-12-1 overall. Compton's woes continued at 0-6-1 in conference and a 2-11-3 season record.
"The team deserved a win today," said a relieved PCC head coach Gerry Mora. "It feels great to finally get a W with six of our guys not being able to play due to injuries and (yellow card infractions). We moved our lineup around and Danny Vargas stepped up as a left back when he normally plays wing. Roger Faustino stepped up as a center back after never playing there before. The guys never gave up and Mark was able to get us a score when we needed it the most."
The Lancers haven't always been the sharpest defensive team this year, but have received steady play this season from goalie Paul Jing (seven saves) and sweeper defender Cameron Montana, who broke up several Compton scoring chances. Montana prevented a goal on a breakaway attempt by Charlye Garcia-Ulloa late in the first half.
"Montana has beeen a key for our center-backs, bringing in experience and leadership," Mora said. "Jing's performance has been getting better every game and at practice. He got confidence since that big 0-0 tie v. Mt. SAC. He keeps making great saves and keeping us in the games."
Jing's best save came in the 79th minute as he stoned Garcia-Ulloa on a blast from the 11-yard line. Jing's speed and agility has allowed him to reach loose balls and stop potential breakaway plays within the goalie box.
Compton goalie Anthony Pina played valiantly as he stopped back-to-back scoring chances by Asher Smith and Dagher (point blank rebound) late in the second half.
On Oct. 22, the Lancers lost at state #6-ranked Cerritos College, 2-0, after a tough 2-1 defeat v. visiting #10-rated El Camino College on Oct. 19. In that game, Mario Urbina scored on a header off a rebound shot, assisted by Christian Chavez.
Martin Manzanilla continues to be PCC's leading scorer with five goals and three assists (13 points) in 18 games.
Mora said, "Now we just need to focus on the last two regular season games and then hopefully we can get great results as we play the SCC Tournament. We have talent and we've had moments of really good play, so it's just a matter of executing plays and getting some breaks to go our way too."
This Friday, Oct. 29, the Lancers play at LA Harbor College (3 p.m.), then return for their 2021 home finale against Los Angeles City College on Tuesday, Nov. 2 (2 p.m. kickoff at Robinson Stadium). The SCC Tournament will take place beginning on Nov. 5, location, opponent and game time to be announced.