Explosive 2nd Half Gives State #18 Men's Soccer 5th Win In Row

The state #18-ranked Pasadena City College men's soccer team scored three second-half goals to erase a 1-0 haltime deficit for the Lancers' fifth straight win on Friday. The Lancers downed Bakersfield, 3-1, in a non-conference game at Robinson Stadium.

PCC ran its record to 8-2 and its win streak is the longest in 16 years. It was the first time since the program was resurrected in 1998 that the squad faced Bakersfield in a match.

In the 49th minute, Jose Perez took a free kick from the 15-yard line and lined it into the lower left corner to tie the game.

With 15:41 left, Alex Petrossians intercepted a Bakersfield send out from its own end at the 36-yard line. He sent a pass to Angel Ballesteros, who instinctively eluded a Renegades defender by flipping the ball to himself and in one motion drop-kicking a 14-yard blast for the game-winning score.

Just four minutes later, Diego Lazo dribbled the ball into the box and fired a shot into the far corner of the net for the insurance goal. Lazo and Ballesteros continue to match each other as the two lead the Lancers with seven goals each. 

Pasadena stands #6 in the all-important region power points at 2.09.

PCC opens South Coast Conference play on Tuesday, Oct. 8 when it hosts state #1-ranked Mt. San Antonio in a 4 p.m. kickoff.