LTCC picks up first away win during five-game road trip

SAN PABLO, Calif. — The Lake Tahoe Community College men's soccer team snapped a four-game winless run with a 3-1 victory over host Contra Costa College on Tuesday afternoon.

Currently immersed in a five-game road trip, its longest span away from home of the season, LTCC (2-4-3) picked up its first win since a Sept. 8 thriller over American River.

Quinton Alewine dished out two assists, Elijah Rivera delivered from a dead ball, and Mason Franks and Joseph Gonzalez continued their offensive momentum against Contra Costa (1-3-3).

"We had a very balanced performance today, and we controlled the whole game," said LTCC head coach Carlos Trujeque Leal. "It feels good to get a 'dub' on the road. Now, we can prepare for Friday's match and fine-tune things before conference play."

Alewine, a sophomore from Las Vegas, crossed in a ball from the right side that Gonzalez — another Las Vegas product — finished to put LTCC up 1-0 in the 10th minute. It was Gonzalez's fourth goal of the season, briefly giving him the outright team lead.

LTCC lost the ball in a dangerous area and was penalized for its mistake when Contra Costa polished it off to make it 1-1 five minutes later.

The Coyotes took the lead for good in the 50th minute when Rivera's free kick found the top corner. Rivera has found the net at key moments for LTCC; both of his goals this season have put the Coyotes ahead (the other coming on Sept. 11 vs. De Anza).

The match was put out of reach with 10 minutes to go. Alewine, this time from the left side, found Franks, and the sophomore deposited it into the back of the net for his second goal in his last three games. With the tally, Franks matched Gonzalez's four goals and took the overall team lead with 11 points through nine contests (four goals, three assists).

Benjamín Jónsson, a freshman from Reykjavík, Iceland, made four saves between the pipes on the way to his first collegiate victory.

The Coyotes wrap up non-conference play on Friday, Sept. 25, at San Joaquin Delta College. The final match of their road trip will be the Golden Valley Conference opener on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Shasta College.

They'll finally return home on Friday, Oct. 2, at 4pm to host Feather River in GVC play.