Men’s Soccer Defeats No. 16 Cypress in Thrilling 3-1 Overtime Victory, Advances to Round Three of SoCal Regionals

The Long Beach City College men's soccer team delivered a dramatic 3-1 overtime victory against No. 16 Cypress College on Saturday evening, securing their place in the third round of the Southern California Regionals.

"The marathon continues," said goalkeeper Abraham Ramirez, who played a crucial role with three key saves against the Chargers.

The Vikings struck first in the 19th minute when Hector Tellez found the back of the net with an assist from Julian Zarate, giving LBCC an early 1-0 advantage. Cypress responded late in regulation, equalizing with just nine minutes remaining to force extra time.

LBCC wasted no time reclaiming control in the first overtime period. Just one minute after the whistle, Jordi Pineda, assisted by Jose Mariscal, put the Vikings ahead 2-1. Pineda then sealed the victory in the second overtime period with his second goal of the match, securing a hard-fought 3-1 triumph.

"I believe the guys dug pretty deep today," said assistant coach Carlos Barrios. "It wasn't the prettiest game, but we found a way to pull through and get the win. I'm excited for what's next."

The Vikings now turn their focus to the third round of the SoCal Regional Playoffs. They will host No. 8 Fullerton College on Tuesday, November 26, at 2 p.m.

Tickets for this playoff matchup can be purchased through the Hometown Ticketing app. General admission is $12, while discounted tickets for students, faculty, staff, senior citizens (60+), and children under 12 are $8. Don't miss the action as the Vikings continue their postseason journey!