Shorthanded Men's Soccer Takes Two This Week

by Cerwin D Haynes

(thumbnail by La Anh San Nham)

East LA College Men's Soccer had plans to tally some conference wins during this past month. Instead, they've tallied a litany of injuries - particularly to their starters - that have handicapped them.

Despite such setbacks, the Huskies were finally able to get on the South Coast Conference board this week with home victories against Pasadena City and LA Harbor. Here's how they won both games:

ELAC 2, PCC 1 (Tuesday 10/25)

All the scoring took place in the second half: in the 59th minute, Huskies' freshman F Viktor Negreiro found net on a cross in box, wide-open tap-in with the assist from MF Anco Veigo for a 1-0 lead. The Lancers would answer in the 73rd minute as Lancers' MF Kareem Browne scored give-and-go blast from 11 yds out (MF Osmar Rojas on the assist) to tie the game. East would score the eventual game-winner in the 84th minute courtesy of a header by freshman D Luis Zometa (off a CK by D Julian Osorio).

ELAC 1, LAHC 0 (Friday 10/28)

Despite LA Harbor's 1-7 SCC record, ELAC head coach Eddie Flores said before the game that he, "didn't know what to expect" from the Seahawks. Looking over at his depleted bench, he wasn't sure what to expect from his own team either.

Thankfully for him, the guys that were able to suit up for the Green gutted out a strong defensive effort to turn away LA Harbor. The lone goal in this one was scored in the 67th minute by one of the few starters still healthy enough to play: sophomore F Bryant Guerrero kicked one through from the left of the net.

HUSKY BITS

• Negreiro, the freshman from Brazil, netted his second goal of the season on Tuesday. Coach Flores razzed him a bit after Friday's game by saying he needs to pass the ball more. Negreiro has shown good speed dribbling the ball past nearby opponents, particularly near the sideline.
• Zometa (out of Montebello HS) scored his first goal of the season Friday.

UP NEXT:

The Huskies (2-5-1, 7-10-3) head down to Cerritos to face the undefeated and #1 state-ranked Falcons (8-0, 16-0-2) next Tuesday in the final game before the SCC Tournament begins next Friday November 4. Looking at a consolation bracket seed for the upcoming SCC Tournament that starts next Friday, Coach Flores wants to secure at least one more home game at Weingart - to do that, ELAC will need to be in either seventh or eighth place after the Cerritos game. A Huskies win or a PCC loss Tuesday will do the trick.