Late Surge Lifts Men's Soccer Past Moorpark, 4-2

After watching a 2-0 second-half lead evaporate in a hurry v.  visiting Moorpark College, the Pasadena City College men's soccer team responded with its own offensive spurt. Ronaldo Chavez scored with seven minutes left and Asher Smith picked up an insurance goal in the 90th minute as the Lancers defeated Moorpark, 4-2, at Robinson Stadium Tuesday afternoon.

PCC improved to 4-6 while Moorpark dropped to 4-4-1. The Lancers are 3-1 in home games this season.

Nathan Cruz gave the Lancers a 1-0 halftime lead as he hit the right post on a shot then followed it up with a rebound into the net in the game's 10th minute for his fourth goal of the year. Cruz was instrumental in two more scores as he finished with a goal and two assists. 

Just two minutes into the second half, the left-footed Cruz took a free kick from the 24-yard line and sent a perfectly placed ball that Martin Manzanilla headed in for his fourth goal of the season and a 2-0 Lancers advantage.

But as has been a habit of late for Pasadena, another second-half defensive breakdown allowed Moorpark back in the game. The Raiders' Jared Fuller headed in a shot on a PCC missed defensive assignment inside the box, then a cross pass after a corner kick went to a wide open Hilario Loscano who drove in a rocket shot from the 12-yard line to tie it. The two goals occurred in a 5-minute span to tie it at 2-2.

In the 57th minute, PCC averted traling as Moorpark's Alex Silva's shot hit the inside of the right post but the referees ruled the ball did not go past the line. Starting Lancers goalie Andrew Espinoza also made a few big saves on short-range attempts during the Raiders' offensive flurry. 

Pasadena looked for a break and got one when Smith took off on a breakaway with his inital shot stopped by Raiders goalie Jordan Ramirez. But Chavez fought for the rebound and outstretched his right leg to knock in the game-winner. In the 87th minute, Danny Vargas was stopped by Ramirez on a penalty kick. However, PCC kept the offensive pressure on and capped the victory when Smith took a lead pass by Cruz and rifled a shot into the upper part of the net for his third goal of the year.

"We've been working on finishing the last 10 minutes of each half strong," said PCC head coach Gerry Mora. "Nathan's scoring and making an assist made a difference. Finally both of my strikers scored for a change in Ronaldo and Asher. We are connecting a bit more, but we still need to work out our issues on defense."

PCC did have some strong defensive performances turned in especially by Cameron Montana, who made several slide tackle plays to break up potential Moorpark breakaways. Defender Edward Morales and midfielder Elias Galaviz also provided some key defensive stops. Moorpark had nine corner kicks and for the most part the Lancers were able to reach balls first to get them out of harm's way.

The Lancers were coming off a 3-0 loss to Cuyamaca on Friday. That game was delayed an hour so that the teams could move the contest to Grossmont College after a flash flood near Cuyamaca made for hazardous conditions there. 

This Friday, Oct. 1, PCC plays at Oxnard College in a 4 p.m. non-conference game. The Lancers will return home on Tuesday, Oct. 5 for their South Coast Conference opener v. Rio Hondo College (2 p.m. kickoff).