The San Diego City College Men’s Soccer team came out victorious against the Pasadena Lancers at home on the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 18.
The Knights started the game off in good fashion, scoring twice in the first six minutes of the game. Freshman Tony Nguyen placed an excellent free kick into the middle of the penalty box where forward Roberto Diaz headed the ball into goal. The Knights scored again later in the 15th minute after Edgar Martinez knocked in a blocked shot that had bounced off a Pasadena defender.
After opening the scoring, the Knights kept pressure on Pasadena with great defending. City defender Jameel Sampson showed superb tactical awareness, great heading ability, and strong tackling. Sampson neutralized the threat presented by Pasadena forward Zachary Larson and midfielder Kevin Ramirez. Not only did Sampson show great defending ability, but also his talent to lead counter attacks against the opposing side was remarkable.
Nguyen was instrumental in attacking Pasadena from the right side. Nguyen’s dribbling skills paired with his speed allowed him to slice through the Lancer’s defense.
Freshman goalkeeper Oscar Vazquez remained strong in the goal for the Knights. By keeping the Knights defensive line organized and utilizing great positioning, Vazquez kept the Knights from being scored on until the 19th minute.
The Lancers were able to score their first goal when sophomore Irving Rosales powered in a low shot past Vazquez. From there Pasadena forwards attacked City’s goal with gusto. Pasadena’s front line continued to push forward, becoming more aggressive as the game pushed on. The Lancer’s eventually ended up giving away a penalty kick towards the dying moments of the game. Freshman forward Carlo Romero stepped up to calmly convert the penalty past Pasadena’s goalkeeper.
Vazquez ended up making 19 remarkable saves through out the match. The Knights ended up defeating the Lancer’s by a final score of 3-1. The Knights have one last pre-league game before beginning play in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference. Next, the Knight’s Men’s Soccer Team will face Southwestern Community College away from home on September 25.
