Men's Soccer defeats Pasadena 3-1

PASADENA, CA — The East Los Angeles College men’s soccer team broke a tie with a goal in the 77th minute en route to a 3-1 win at Pasadena City College.

ELAC freshman forward Valentin Mercado (Animo Ralph Bunche Charter High School) scored the tie-breaking goal, a hard right corner shot from the 20 yard line off a sophomore Albert Chamagua (Glendale HS) assist to put the Huskies up 2-1.

Chamagua scored a goal at 81:55, a free kick from the 12-yard sideline upper corner to give ELAC a 3-1 lead.

ELAC freshman midfielder Hugo Flores (Oscar De La Hoya Animo Charter HS) scored an unassisted goal in the 29th minute to open up the scoring Flores scored from a direct free kick from the top of the box.

Pasadena scored in the 63rd minute to tie the score 1-all, when Oscar Venegas (assist Yezid Lopez) connected on a cross in the box 1-timer.

ELAC shot 18 times. Chamagua led the Huskies with eight shots, four of them shots on goal.

Mercado attempted three goals, Flores had two shots as did freshman midfielder Martin Oregal (Schurr HS). Adding one shot each for the Huskies were freshman midfielder Javier Gutierrez (Montebello HS), freshman forward Jose Gracia (Animo Pat Brown Charter HS) and freshman forward Raul Zamorano (Huntington Park HS).

ELAC freshman goalkeeper Joel Magana (Jefferson HS) had six saves.

Pasadena had nine shots, three of them from freshman Jorge Mejia.

ELAC, 6-5-6 overall and 3-4-3 in the South Coast Conference, moved to fifth place from seventh in the SCC standings. Pasadena (1-14-2, 1-1-1) remained in last place.

ELAC hosts El Camino College (3-6-8, 2-3-5) on Tuesday at 1 p.m.

story submitted by Tadzio Garcia