Hancock’s best isn’t quite enough
The Hancock College men's soccer team gave an inspired effort Friday, but the Bulldogs came up a little short.
"Our guys played the best match they have all season," Hancock coach Al Garcia said after Western State Conference co-leader Glendale edged Hancock 3-2. "It was a great match."
The Vaqueros (7-1-1 WSC, 10-3-1 overall) got the game-winner when Alfredo Casillas took Julio Delcid's pass and booted the ball into the right side of the net in the 72nd minute of the game.
Just prior to Casillas' goal, the Bulldogs (5-4, 11-7-3) had put on some good pressure in Glendale territory. But after Casillas' score, the Vaqueros controlled the ball most of the game's final 18 minutes. Bulldogs goalie Jason Hancock had to make three saves in that span to keep the Bulldogs close.
"We had our opportunities," Garcia said after Glendale goalie Robert Rodriguez made three saves on Hancock season scoring leader Isaac Torres in the first half. "Now we just have to beat Moorpark and hope we still get into the playoffs on the basis of our power rating. We do have a good power rating."
The Bulldogs, who won the WSC title last year, are in third place. That is where they will remain regardless of the outcome of their regular season finale at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Moorpark.
"We'll know by Nov. 12 whether or not we get in," Garcia said. "It's all based on power ratings and some teams that we play, like (WSC co-leader) Santa Barbara and Glendale, are above 50 percent in the power ratings. That means we get a power point when we play them even if we lose."
The Vaqueros put on some heavy pressure early on, but defenders Zak Viker and Kris Colt helped Hancock keep Glendale off the scoreboard. Then Bulldogs Nathan Nunez and Chris Nunez took control of the midfield area and the momentum switched to Hancock.
The Bulldogs scored first when Kyle Beattie took Torres' pass and kicked one past Rodriguez from close in during the game's 19th minute. In the 38th minute, Glendale's Oscar Limon broke free and knocked one in from about 15 yards out to tie the score at 1-1, where it stood at halftime.
Glendale grabbed the lead in the 50th minute of the game. Rodolfo Duran and Esber Ramos got behind the Bulldogs' defense, and Duran beat goalie Hancock to the ball and scored.
Torres answered by taking a perfect pass from John Roth and lining one into the left side of the net in the game's 60th minute for his 25th goal of the year. The Bulldogs penetrated well several times during the next 10 minutes, but a shot by Torres hit the bar on the right side of the goal, and then Martin Burgos' attempt went just over the top bar.
"I think what happened today was typical of what happens in the second round," Glendale coach Joe Agoston said. "A team beats another one once, and guys figure 'OK, we beat you, now go ahead and play dead.' But that's not what happens. Guys forget that it's a new day."
"I'm very proud of our guys," Garcia said. "They could have just accepted the place they got and folded up, but they didn't."