COD (4-4-1) in a testy game for both sides where six yellow cards were handed out, the Roadrunners had to come from behind, fighting back from a two goal deficit to tie the Irvine Valley Lasers (4-2-4) in injury time, 3-3.

In a first time match-up for both squads as prior to this afternoon, College of the Desert had never played Irvine Valley in Men's Soccer in program history, it was a good one. The game featured contrasting offensive and defensive arraignments, where it appeared at any time, either team could score, but neither defense would allow it.

Sophomore goal keeper Danny Negrete (Thermal Desert Mirage) faced nine hard shots, including two penalty kicks, making six huge saves and his counterpart face a Roadrunners offensive onslaught that saw him making seven saves on ten shots on goal.

Desert shot out of the gate like a race horse, putting pressure on the Lasers defense from the opening whistle. Then in the 6th minute, freshman midfielder Erick Guzman (Cathedral City H.S.) threaded a ball through to sophomore forward Alejandro Pimentel (Thermal Desert Mirage), who pounded the shot attempt past the keeper in the lower left corner of the net, giving the home side a 1-0 advantage.

In the 18th minute, Irvine Valley was awarded a penalty kick after a Roadrunners foul in the goal box. The converted opportunity equalized the score at 1-1, a score which would hold through halftime.

In the second half, the Lasers shot out of the gate just like Desert had in the first half, getting a shot on goal in seconds and then in the 46th minute taking the lead, 2-1.

As the game started to go in a different direction than either team wanted, yellow cards starting being handed out. Six in total would be delivered on the afternoon, all in the second half.

In the 67th minute, Irvine Valley was again awarded a penalty kick, which they converted, giving them a 3-1 lead.

In the 74th minute, freshman defender Dan Sanchez (Rancho Mirage H.S.) lofted a pass forward to the always dangerous offensive weapon, sophomore midfielder Lucas Rosales (La Quinta H.S.), and Lucas tore through the Lasers final defenders poking a shot right past the diving Irvine Valley keeper to get the Roadrunners back on the board, yet still down one, 3-2.

In injury time, with time ticking away and full field press on, freshman forward Leyver Guzman (Cathedral City H.S.) pushed a pass to Rosales who tapped a shot just passed the Lasers keeper as the home bench and home crowd erupted in cheers. Moments later the official blew the whistle to conclude the match.

The next game for Desert is on Friday, September 27 at 4p, when they host the San Diego Mesa Olympians of Clairemont Mesa. In a rivalry that starting in 1982, the Roadrunners have a 9-18-4 record overall against the Olympians, winning 3 of the last 4 match-ups, sweeping Mesa in both home-at-home contests last season.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photo by Michael Leone Photography (f8leone@yahoo.com)