Men's Soccer Beats Glendale, But Outgunned By State RPI #1 Mt. SAC In SCC Opener

The Pasadena City College men's soccer team used a premium effort in defeating host Glendale on Friday, but couldn't carry that momentum into Tuesday's South Coast Conference opener. Mt. San Antonio, rated #2 on the sports information state poll but #1 in the RPI state ratings, looked like a world-beater in a 5-2 win over the Lancers at Robinson Stadium.

The Lancers (5-5-1 overall) fell behind early on a header rebound goal by Jesus Garcia, a familiar face as the transfer played at PCC in 2016 as an All-SoCal Region selection. The goal in the fifth minute was followed by a great individual play by Angel Santoyo, who carried the ball toward the near sideline, cut toward the middle and then fired a blast from the 11-yard line to make it 2-0 in the 27th minute. 

PCC showed life in the second half just three minutes in when Mauricio Rodriguez sent in a corner kick that Andres Velasquez settled deep in the box and knocked in for a goal that cut it to 2-1. Thoughts of tying it were erased a minute later as Mt. SAC's Jason Garcia centered a 20-yard hard low shot with PCC goalie Steven Sandoval out of position after committing to a play by Omar Ollarzabal, who faked a shot and sent a perfect pass to the wide open Garcia. The Mounties all but put the game away just two minutes later on a free kick goal into the upper corner by Herminio Padilla, who scored from the 12-yard line. 

The Lancers made it respectable on a penalty kick goal in the 86th minute by Emmanuel Becerra. 

Overall, Mt. SAC, still undefeated at 10-0-1, created more scoring chances than PCC, who could only reach the Mounties' goalie on three of its 11 shots. Sandoval made four saves, including a goal-saving stop on a breakway by Jason Garcia in the 68th minute. 

On Oct. 4 at Glendale, the Lancers got two goals by Martin Manzanilla and a goal and assist from Velasquez to defeat the Vaqueros, 3-1. Mario Urbina and Kevin Huertos each recorded an assist. On Oct. 1 at Citrus, the Lancers led 3-2 on a goal by Velasquez in the 56th minute, but the Owls rallied for a 3-3 tie with a goal by Adolfo Jimenez with five minutes left. Urbina and Carlos Navarro also scored goals for PCC.

On Sept. 24 at Southwestern, all five goals were scored in the second half in a 3-2 loss to the Jaguars. Navarro and Urbina scored the Lancers goals. On Sept. 20, PCC played well at state #3-ranked Oxnard, but were blanked by the Condors, 2-0.  

On Sept. 17, Huertos' goal broke a 1-1 tie in the 63rd minute in a 2-1 win at Norco College. 

On Friday, Oct. 11, the Lancers will play an evening conference contest at East Los Angeles College (6 p.m. kickoff).

Photo below: Martin Manzanilla fires a shot during PCC's win at Glendale last Friday.