For the third time in less than a month, the Pasadena City College men's soccer team will face South Coast Conference North DIvision rival Los Angeles CIty. This time, the stakes are higher as the #22-seeded Lancers face the #11 Cubs in Round 1 of the Southern California Regional Playoffs on Wednesday, Nov. 19. The 7:30 p.m. contest will be played at LA Valley College due to LACC's home field not of regulation width for the postseason.
PCC (10-8-4) hope the third meeting is the charm after LA City posted 3-1 (Oct. 21) and 6-1 wins (Nov. 7) over the Lancers during the SCC season.
LA City (12-4-6) is an opponent on fire as the Cubs won the SCC Tournament title, defeating the likes of #7 and SCC North Division champion Mt. San Antonio and #16 Long Beach (SCC South Divison champ). During a current, 11-game undefeated streak (9-0-2), they earned a tie v. #8 Cerritos. LACC hasn't lost since Oct. 7 in the conference opener v. #4 El Camino. LACC is led by All-SCC First Teamers in goalie Carlos Rodriguez and midfielder Juan Munoz.
Head Coach Francisco Cantero's Lancers have been battling injuries, the flu and a downturn in play that has resulted in winning just one of their last nine games (1-7-1). However, the playoff seed gives the squad a second chance to succeed.
The winner of PCC v. LA City travels to face #6 Norco on Saturday, Nov. 22.
ALL-SOUTH COAST CONFERENCE NORTH DIVISION SELECTIONS
PCC placed six players on the All-SCC North Division First and Second Teams.
Making First Team were team-leading scorer and freshman forward Julian Zuniga (seven goals, 4 assists), frosh midfielder Junior Martinez Cortes (four goals, six assists), and sophomore midfielder David Canales (five goals, two assists).
Selected Second Team were sophomore midfielder Ronaldo Garcia (three goals, one helper), freshman forward Solemon Alveno-Donofrio (five goals, five assists) and 2-year letterman forward Jouseph Contreras (four goals, two assists).