COSTA MESA – Vanguard men's soccer last played Menlo for the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament Championship last year.  That match was enthralling but VU pulled out a 1-0 victory to take the title.  Saturday saw the rematch with some new faces on each squad but a similar style of game, with each side holding defensively and landing some punches offensively.  The Lions would score first and last in the topsy-turvy game to emerge with a 2-2 draw.  VU will go to 4-1-3 overall and 2-0-1 in GSAC play.  The Oaks will go to 5-3-4 overall and 1-1-2 in GSAC action.

What Happened?

Markus Garcia (JR/Corona, CA) got the first shot of the game away in the third minute off of a free kick, but it went over the crossbar by a small margin.  The game was marked by a number of fouls by both sides, with the teams eventually combing for 45 total fouls, limiting the amount of flow the game had.  The next shot was the first for Menlo in the 24th minute, but it sailed high.  The Oaks got another shot in the 26th minute but it missed wide to the right, as Edwin Monterrosa (FR/Los Angeles, CA) looked on.  MC had the better of the play through the middle part of the half but the Blue and Gold started to take back control towards the end of the first 45.  That turned into shots from Jesse Gonzalez (SR/Fullerton, CA) and Robert Ronco (FR/San Diego, CA), but neither found the target.  With the Lions owning a slim 3-2 edge in shots, the two teams went to the break knotted at 0-0.

While the first half was tactical, the second half was action-packed and had big swings of energy for the remaining 45 minutes.  Menlo got the first shot four minutes in, but it went well over the bar.  The two teams then sparred in the midfield before a foul gave Andrew Robles (SR/Tustin, CA) a free-kick opportunity.  He drove his shot but it skimmed just by the left post, keeping the teams level.  Vanguard then got on the board in the 57th minute from a superb passing play.  Zachary Miramontes (SO/Fullerton, CA) picked up a misplaced pass by the Oaks and bounded forward.  He rolled it in to Lucah Flores (SO/Frisco, TX), who smoothly flicked it up over the defender in front of him for Aidan Doherty (SO/Huntington Beach, CA).  The sophomore laced it into the left side netting to put Vanguard ahead 1-0. 

Once more though, Menlo started to take over the match in the middle part of the frame.  The Oaks got a pair of shots but Monterrosa did not have to make a save.  Things then seemed to get better for VU, with Nathaniel Gomez (JR/Dominguez, CA) getting off two shot attempts, but both were blocked in a scrum just outside the box.  However, the positive period would be short-lived.  Menlo worked down the far side of the field and a cross was chested down to Bernardo Silva at the top of the box, with Silva shooting it past Monterrosa to tie the game in the 73rd minute.  Things got worse five minutes later, as a foul in the box gave the Oaks a penalty kick.  Oliver Mayer went right as did the diving Monterrosa, but the ball was just out of the reach of the VU goalie, putting the guests up 2-1.

The Lions tried to get back into it but wasted a couple of set-piece opportunities by being offside.  Time continued to wind down without a Vanguard shot, as Menlo remained disciplined in their own end.  But there was still some magic left on the VU Soccer Field.  A throw-in from Tyler Redmon (FR/La Verne, CA) arrived at Ronco's feet, but a defender swept his legs out, with the referee giving a PK.  Robles took the ball and made a very confident penalty, shooting it into the top left corner of the net to tie the game in the 89th minute.  That left no time for another shot, leaving the teams tied at 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes.

Vanguard outshot Menlo 10-8 on the day and held a 3-2 shot on goal mark.  Each team had two corner kicks and Menlo had the only save of the game.  MC had 20 fouls and VU had 25.  Gomez, Gonzalez, Robles, and Ronco each had two shots.

Why is it Important?

This is the first tie between the two programs, which leaves the all-time series at 8-4-1. Vanguard drops to second in the standings, one point behind Hope International and Arizona Christian.

What's Next?  The Lions will travel to the Arizona schools, beginning with a Thursday night clash against Arizona Christian at 8:00 p.m.