State #18 Men's Soccer Upends #15 LA CIty

The Pasadena CIty College men's soccer team came up with perhaps its biggest win of the season in defeating state #15 Los Angeles City, 1-0, on the road Tuesday night.

Ranked #18 in the latest State Top 20, the Lancers knocked LACC out of first place in the South Coast Conference North Division, now occupied by #3 Mt. San Antonio. PCC improved to 12-5 overall and 4-3 in South Coast games. It matches the most wins by a Lancers team since 2016.

In a meeting of two of the state's top defensive teams, the game featured few high-end scoring chances and just 15 total shots attempted combined for the two teams (8-7 edge for the Lancers).

In the 63rd minute, Diego Lazo struck for the only goal of the game as he took a pass from Alex Petrossians and centered a 17-yard drive into the back of the net. 

With eight minutes left, LA City's Daniel Lopez Rosas ripped a 20-yard drive above the bar and later two minutes left Josiah Lucio blocked a shot deep in the box to keep the Cubs scoreless.

PCC head coach Francisco Cantero talked about some of the highlights from the match.

"Our back line, especially Jordy Aviles, was solid defensively and in limiting LACC to opportunities," he said. "Jorky Aguirre and Ronaldo Garcia were excellent in the middle, stopping any transition play by LA City. Lazo, Jose Perez, Angel Nolasco, Cristian Villegas, Angel Ballesteros, and Ariel Hernandez all kept putting pressure in their territory and gave us some great attacking chances. It was a quality goal by Lazo on one of the best sequences we've had this season.

"Really our whole team played well and the game had a playoff atmosphere to it. The South Coast Conference brings out the best in the players for all the teams. It was a satisfying, big win v. a very tough opponent."

LA City (10-4-4, 4-1-2 in SCC play) recently upset #6 Long Beach, 1-0, last Friday. 

PCC hosts Long Beach on Sophomore Night on Friday, Nov. 1 in a 6:30 p.m. kickoff at Robinson Stadium.