ELAC men’s soccer gets 2-2 draw at Glendale

GLENDALE, CA — For the second straight year, the East Los Angeles College men’s soccer team dominated play against non-conference rival Glendale Community College at Sartoris Field and only managed a draw, this year 2-2.

The Huskies remain unbeaten, but is the fourth draw this season. ELAC has followed each win this year with a tie and is 4-0-4 overall. Glendale is 1-5-2.

ELAC controlled the game right from the start and out shot Glendale’s booter style with exciting play.

For example, sophomore defender Luis Alvarado (Elizabeth Learning Center) had a no look back-heel shot that got a loud reaction from the ELAC fans.

Glendale, however, struck first in the 31st minute (31:55).

Sophomore midfielder Fabricio Bonilla (Kennedy Community High School) found the net with a curling effort from a free kick, which sailed over the ELAC goalkeeper, who was caught off guard.

The Huskies scored the equalizer a minute and a half later, when sophomore midfielder Edward Robles (Wallis Annenberg HS) belted a free kick that ricocheted off a Glendale player.

The score remained deadlocked at 1-1 for the remainder of the half.

The Huskies missed good opportunities in the first half that included a missed header (saved) from a corner kick by sophomore Jorge Mejia (Orthopaedic Medical Magnet) and a breakaway that ended in a missed shot by freshman forward Kevin Rodriguez (Hawkins HS).

In the second half ELAC scored first, a composed goal by Rodriguez (unassisted) in the 60th minute, which was a blast past Glendale freshman goalkeeper Alexis Guzman (LA Teacher Prep HS).

Glendale responded a minute later with a goal from Makan Afzail (unassisted) whose right corner shot was lofted air bound then bounced off the right upright of the goal and in the net.

ELAC then out shot Glendale with bellicose shots that came close but did not find the net.

In the 68th minute, ELAC sophomore defender Andres Martinez (Santiago, Chile / Instituto Tabancura) stole the ball with an exciting header, which set up a play for an ELAC shot on goal a minute later from freshman midfielder Jerson Maravilla (Fremont HS) saved by Guzman.

ELAC out shot Glendale 16-11 in the game. Glendale kept the ELAC offense at bay with 25 fouls, 13 in the second half.

“They (Glendale) played a defensive back. They tried to get a quick counter and to get a goal off that and played defense the whole game with dumb fouls and bad habits of throwing the ball to the sidelines,” said Alvarado. “It took us some time adjusting. We didn’t see the mistakes that were there, which ricocheted off our playing time.”

“I felt like it should have been a win. We had more potential but we just couldn’t put it together. And that happens,” said Alvarado.  “We’re starting conference with one of the toughest teams, which we will start fresh with clear minds and take it from there.”

The Huskies open South Coast Conference play hosting defending state champion Mt. San Antonio College (6-1) on Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Weingart Stadium.

It is the first game of a double header with the ELAC women’s soccer (3-3) team facing Mt. SAC (3-3-1) at 4 p.m.

Follow ELAC Athletics at http://athletics.elac.edu/landing/index and ELAC Huskies Athletics on Facebook.

submitted by Tadzio Garcia