Moran Makes LA Mission Accomplished v. Men's Soccer

The Pasadena City College men's soccer team created opportunities throughout its 3-1, non-conference loss against host LA Mission College on Tuesday. Unfortunately for the Lancers (1-1-2), the Eagles had the ultimate offensive weapon in forward Javier Moran, who scored all three of his team's goals.

LA Mission (2-3-2) enjoyed its first home match at its large El Cariso Park artificial field surface after it had been limited to only one goal in its first six games this season. Moran, a sophomore forward, made sure that trend would end when he scored on a penalty kick in the 12th minute after PCC goalie Andrew Espinoza was called for a foul on a breakaway opportunity.

In the 20th minute, Moran took a free kick from Angel Martinez, dribbled into the middle just outside the top of the 18-yard box and drove in another goal for a 2-0 LA Mission lead. The Lancers answered in the 32nd minute when Yader Rodriguez sent a long pass that Anthony Jimenez accepted in stride and then chipped a shot over the head of Eagles' starting goalie Esteban Chavez. The goal cut it to 2-1.

Espinoza made a tip save and defender Satchel Robinson blocked a header late in the half that kept LA Mission from extending the lead. PCC took 12 shots in the offensive-charged first half. In the 28th minute, Kevin Deagueros was stopped on a point blank shot by Chavez and his rebound was somehow blocked away by an Eagles' defender. 

Just four minutes into the second half, Moran capped his hat trick as he rifled a shot from 25 yards out that beat Espinoza. The Lancers controlled the offensive side of the field for much of the last 40 minutes, but couldn't cash in despite plays created by Rodriguez and Pablo Buenrostro. In all, PCC outshot LA Mission, 23-17. Espinoza made five saves.

PCC continues its 7-match road trip to start the season on Friday, Sept. 22 in a 7 p.m. contest at local rival Glendale College.