Huskies celebrate a 2-2 tie vs. Santa Ana College. From left, Valentin Mercado, Andres Martinez, Martin Oregel, Cesar Alvarez and Jorge Chavez. (Photo by DeeDee Jackson)

Posted: Sep 03, 2016

ELAC men’s soccer begins 0-2-1

ORANGE, CA — The East Los Angeles College men’s soccer team lost 2-0 today against Santiago Canyon College after opening the season with a 1-0 loss at Southwestern College on August 26 and a 2-2 draw against Santa Ana College on August 31.

Against Santiago College, the Hawks opened up the scoring with a goal from freshman forward Kevin Perez, assist from sophomore forward Andy Galvan (Perris HS) from a run down the left flank.

Santiago Canyon added a goal in the 82nd minute when Andy Galvan finished a cross from freshman midfielder Charlie Ordonez (Anaheim HS).

The Huskies had nine shots on goal, four from sophomore Cesar Alvarez (Bell Gardens HS), three from freshman forward Loai Ibrahim and one each from sophomore forwards Hector Reyes (Los Angeles HS) and Valentin Mercado (Animo Ralph Bunche HS).

Six Huskies also had one shot each.

Santiago Canyon had five shots on goal, two saved by ELAC freshman goalkeeper David Galvan.

In the ELAC home opener vs. Santa Ana College, the Huskies took a 2-0 led into the locker room at the half then held on for a 2-2 non-conference tie.

“We’ll take the tie for now,” said 13-year ELAC Head Coach Eddie Flores. “It was a justifiable tie to a good team.”

In the 20th minute, a Santa Ana defender tripped ELAC sophomore midfielder Jorge Chavez (Cathedral HS) after stepping on his foot. Chavez scored the ensuing penalty kick. ELAC led 1-0.

Alvarez scored in the 43rd minute (freshman midfielder Andres Martinez assist) and ELAC led 2-0.

Santa Ana freshman Emilio Luengas scored in the 48th minute (penalty kick). In the 56th minute, the Dons scored the equalizer from a freshman Leonardo Oliveira cross (assist freshman forward Daniel Castro).

ELAC had four shots on goal, two from Mercado. ELAC added eight shots, two each from Mercado and Ibrahim. ELAC sophomore goalkeeper Ivan Barranco (Schurr HS), a transfer from Rio Hondo College, had five saves.

Against Southwestern in the season opener, the Jaguars broke a scoreless tie in the 80th minute from a goal by freshman Jaime Hererra (assist sophomore Edgar Garcia).

Barranco had four saves for the Huskies.

The Huskies have two games this week as they try to get in the win column. ELAC travels to San Bernardino Valley College (2-0), Tuesday, Sept. 6 for a 4 p.m. game and play Orange Coast College (0-0-1) on Friday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. at Weingart Stadium.

story submitted by Tadzio Garcia