ELAC Men’s Soccer Comes Up Short Against Santa Ana
MONTEREY PARK, Calif. — The freshmen-laden East Los Angeles College men’s soccer team gave up three penalty kicks to Santa Ana College in a 5-2 loss, the season opener for both squads.
Santa Ana opened the scoring in the first period with an unassisted goal from freshman midfielder Jesus Nunez (Access High School). ELAC scored the equalizer when returning sophomore Alexander Silva (Roosevelt HS) blasted a cross from Pablo Macedo Nahashique (Eja, Brazil) past the Santa Ana goalkeeper.
Santa Ana added two more first period goals, the former from freshman midfielder Miguel Gomez. Gomez attempted a penalty kick, which was reflected by Huskies freshman goalkeeper Antonio Sanchez (Chula Vista HS). Gomez then took advantage of an ELAC mistake and scored off the ricocheted ball. The Huskies failed to move in and defend after the penalty shot attempt.
Santa Ana had three first period fouls and received three yellow cards, two to sophomore forward Diego Henriquez (Bonita HS) and one to freshman midfielder Giovanni Alberto (Corona Centennial HS).
The Huskies were their own enemy in the first period. When ELAC failed to defend quick enough as a block of four men with just two on the outside instead, Santa Ana read this and scored two goals from the center.
The Huskies gelled in the second half on defense but couldn’t overcome the two second period penalty kicks awarded to Santa Ana, which were about 10 seconds apart.
ELAC sophomore Rene Sanchez (Maywood Academy HS) added the final goal of the game on an assist from freshman Denilson Rivera (Huntington Park HS).
The Huskies sport the youngest team in four years, which includes 20 freshman, three returning sophomores, two transfer sophomores from Brazil and two transfer sophomores from local JC’s, Pasadena City and Los Angeles Harbor colleges.
Unofficially, ELAC freshman goalkeeper Antonio Sanchez (Chula Vista HS) had a save as did Husky freshman goalkeeper Horacio Aguirre (Maywood Academy).
“We have the rest of the week to fix our mistakes / communication skills before our next game,” said freshman Vicente Herrera (Colegio Padre Hurtado) a transfer from Santiago, Chile. “And an entire season to continuously improve to get ready for the conference and playoff games.”
ELAC (0-0) plays at Santiago Canyon College (1-0) on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 2 p.m. Santiago Canyon won at Mission College today 6-2.
Follow ELAC Athletics at http://athletics.elac.edu/landing/index or on Facebook at ELAC Huskies Athletics (@elachuskiesathletics).
story submitted by Tadzio Garcia