Another 3-0 Start For Men's Soccer

For the second straight season, the Pasadena City College men's soccer team opened the schedule with a 3-game winning streak. On Friday, staked by a 3-0 lead, the Lancers held on for a 3-2 triumph over Palomar in the squad's 2025 home opener at Robinson Stadium.

PCC head coach Francisco Cantero has directed the program to a 20-10-1 mark since the last four games of his first year running the program in 2023. Last season, the Lancers won two SoCal Regional playoff games while Cantero was South Coast Conference North Division Coach of the Year.

Against Palomar (0-2), David Canales did a give-and-go play, setting up a hard blast at the top of the box by Solemon Alveno-Donofrio. Comets goalie Amanueal Kidanemariam made the initial save, but Canales knocked in the rebound for a 1-0 PCC lead in the 21st minute.

Just 33 seconds into the second half, Cristian Villegas sent a cross to Alveno-Donofrio, who lifted a shot into the upper left corner for a 2-0 advantage. In the 66th minute, Jeremiah Alomo headed in a perfectly placed corner kick by Julian Zuniga that made it 3-0.

Palomar didn't quit as Ismael Zavala punched in a penalty kick goal just two minutes later, then Jakub Kozlowski got free deep in the box and scored that cut the margin to one with six minutes left on the clock. 

PCC's defense held firm from that point and for most of the 90 minutes were solid in preventing Palomar from creating scoring opportunities. The key defenders making plays included Josue Villa Zavala, Andre Baktchedjian, and Allesandro Diaz as goalie Matthew Gilmore only had to make two saves.

The Lancers often controlled the midfield and their speed pressured Palomar's defense. Alveno-Donofrio, Junior Martinez Cortes, and Villegas were instrumental in the offensive territory. 

"We made a couple of poor decisions on defense later in the game, but we definitely were on the offensive and outplayed Palomar for those first 60-plus minutes," Cantero said. "Offensively, we have gotten better each game, pushing the play. It was great for the team to play on our home field for the first time this season."

On Tuesday, Sept. 2, the Lancers will host Allan Hancock, but the 1:30 p.m. scheduled time may change based on the hot weather hitting the Southland next week.