Comeback Kids: Another Rally For PCC, Gain 4-4 Tie v. Pierce

The Pasadena City College men's soccer team hasn't been starting games well, but it has been finishing them with a flourish. For the second straight contest the Lancers rallied from a deficit, this time a 3-0, first-half hole to pull out a 4-4 tie v. Pierce on Tuesday at Robinson Stadium. 

The Lancers (3-2-3 overall) looked like a beaten squad after Brahmas' talented playmaker Diego Nava fired in two goals and assisted on another as Pierce grabbed a comfortable lead at halftime. 

But PCC responded with a furious rush of offense and a sense of urgency in its game that was void in the opening 45 minutes. 

The Lancers began chipping away at the Pierce lead when Andrew Perez accepted a cross from a driving Juaning Balmelli and tucked in an 8-yard shot to cut it to 3-1. 

Balmelli made a strong play on a rush to toward the Brahmas goal that resulted in a corner kick. Alexander Petrossians then curved a beautiful CK that deflected off a Pierce defender for the goal to slice the score to 3-2 in the 68th minute.

With 14 minutes left, Pierce bounced back to make it 4-2 when Emanuel Escobar blocked a shot on that goalline only to see Pedro Perez Jr. collect the rebound and roofed a shot above PCC second goalie William Southam. 

PCC could have folded its tent, but instead kept plugging away. With five minutes on the clock, Emiliano Escobar took a short pass by Alejandro Concepcion and knocked in a goal to again cut into the lead at 4-3.

In the 87th minute, Angel Nolasco made a press into the Pierce box. After a Brahmas' breakup, Concepcion stole the ball inside the box and rifled an 8-yard shot for the game-tying score.

"Alejandro is an offensive threat for us, but hasn't found himself until late in this game. He's a dangerous player and showed it today," said PCC head coach Francisco Cantero. "We have a crazy young team that doesn't get flustered. We made some tactical changes at halftime, and I felt like we responded. This is a learning moment too because we can't put ourselves in these type of holes."

The coach said that Nolasco sparked the offense a bit but that Concepcion, Perez and Jorge Cedillo were key performers in the second half. 

Southam made a couple of big saves in relief of Gabriel Ponce including an important stop of a breakway attempt by Perez Jr. in the 55th minute.

On Friday, Sept. 22, the Lancers will host Imperial Valley in a 2 p.m. non-conference game.