More late-game heroics earn point for Coyotes in homestand finale

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — The Lake Tahoe Community College men's soccer team escaped with a 2-2 draw in the finale of a four-game homestand thanks to its prowess on set pieces throughout the 90 minutes against visiting Chabot College.

Down 2-1 in the 90th minute, the Coyotes earned a free kick along the left side of the field and packed the penalty area with nothing left to lose. Mason Franks whipped in a right-footed cross that Ricardo Grajeda rose to and nodded into the back of the net moments ahead of the final whistle.

For Grajeda, a freshman and South Tahoe High School product, the goal marked his second of the year and first since scoring on Aug. 28 against No. 10 Evergreen Valley.

Franks continues to be a key cog in the LTCC offense early in the season; his assist capped off a homestand in which the sophomore from Livermore also scored twice in a 2-1 win over American River.

The last-second goal marked the second time LTCC (1-2-3) was forced to come from behind in the match.

Chabot (3-1-1) set the tone by breaking the seal in the fourth minute and putting the Coyotes on the back foot.

Chabot, which racked up 21 fouls in the match, was whistled for a foul above the box in the 27th minute. Joseph Gonzalez stepped up to take it, and the Coyotes' leading scorer curled it around the wall and into the far post to make it 1-1. Gonzalez, a Las Vegas product, leads the team in scoring (7 points, 3 goals) and has notched a goal in consecutive matches.

The Coyotes registered a season-high 13 shots and had multiple solid looks on net.

"We had to work hard for this tie," said LTCC head coach Carlos Trujeque Leal. "Unfortunately, it was difficult for us in the final third, but it's good to come away with a point despite not being able to put more in the back of the net."

LTCC finished the homestand 1-1-2 overall, coming away with its first win of the season and inaugural win under first-year coach Trujeque Leal.

The Coyotes will hit the road for five consecutive matches to finish out the month of September. Their road trip starts this week with non-conference matches at Las Positas (Sept. 18) and Skyline (Sept. 19).

Following trips to Contra Costa (Sept. 22) and Delta College (Sept. 25), the Coyotes open Golden Valley Conference (GVC) play on Sept. 29 at Shasta College.

Their next home contest is on Friday, Oct. 2, when LTCC hosts Feather River at 4pm.