Costa Mesa -- Vanguard men's soccer returned to the field Saturday night against Whittier College after their 0-0 draw Wednesday night versus Rocky Mountain. Despite a strong second half, a late slip on a free kick gave the Poets the only goal of the game. VU goes to 2-2-1 on the year.
What Happened? The Poets were the first team to lunge forward, creating some open space on the pitch and getting the first shot of the game away, though James Choi (SR/Irvine, CA) watched it roll across the face of his goal and bounce harmlessly out of play. Choi then had to make a save on a bouncing shot in the 13th minute, as the Poets continued their attack. Stewart Alvayero (JR/Los Angeles, CA) got a shot off in the 21st minute but it sailed high, as he tried a volley from deep. VU had one good chance later in the half on a low cross, but no one could poke it home. A couple of corner kicks in the final minute were not fruitful for the Blue and Gold and the game went to halftime knotted at 0-0. The Lions did outshoot the Poets 7-3 and had a 4-0 edge in corner kicks.
The Lions got off to a better start in the second period, as the squad quickly got a corner kick, but the bicycle kick attempt from Markus Garcia (SO/Corona, CA) ended up right in the chest of the Poet goalie. Garcia then had two more shots that troubled, but did not beat, WC keeper Teddy Nickerson. On pressed the Blue and Gold, as they controlled the game, but a shot from Mario Gonzalez (JR/Anaheim, CA) was blocked and the follow-up from Aiden Doherty (FR/Huntington Beach, CA) missed the net. Despite the struggles, the team continued to carry the momentum for most of the half.
With the clock winding down, the Poets started to get a couple of counter-attacks going and in the 90th minute, their last gasp attack paid off. A foul on VU set up Whittier with a free-kick. The initial ball bounced back off a Poet attacker, but a ricochet off a Lion set the ball nicely for Dominic Morello and he blasted it in to secure a 1-0 for WC.
The Lions outshot the Poets 14-5 and had a 7-0 edge in corner kicks. Markus had five shots, four on target, to pace the lineup, with Alvayero getting three shots, one on target. Choi got only one save in the game.
Why it is Important? This is the first win by Whittier in the history of the matchup.
What was said? "We played a really good second half and gave up a half-chance on a free-kick and they capitalized. Really proud of how the guys responded today and now we have to refocus for Pomona-Pitzer," said Head Coach Randy Dodge.
What's next? The team will travel to Claremont for a matchup against Pomona-Pitzer on Wednesday, Sept. 8, at 4:00 p.m.
