The Raiders of Moorpark College men’s soccer team bounced back against the Glendale College Vaqueros in a 3-1 defeat after suffering consecutive league defeats.
MC ended a series of league losses by defeating Glendale College at home this weekend. The visitors started the game with a long shot from the kickoff, this being one of the few shots they would have in the first half.
MC dominated the game early and it was a diagonal ball lobbed over the Glendale midfield that found the feet of a MC forward wide open in the box. The Glendale keeper, who stayed busy throughout the match, easily saved the shot, which was not equal to the pass.
Forward Lloyd Virgill #19 started in the match taking on multiple players and creating havoc for the Glendale defense.
The Raiders had a host of opportunities that they squandered, with shots rolling to the keeper or going wide off the goal. The passing and movements were good but the finishing was lackluster, and that along with a free header that went just wide of the post.
They had a break through eventually come midway through the first half. A short pass then led to another and just inside of the Glendale penalty box where an unchallenged Josh Felton MC #23 slotted a firm low shot into goal.
The second half began with the Raiders showing much of the same energy and attacking prowess they displayed in the first half.
Quick one-twos near the box led to a layoff pass for MC #9 and sophomore captain Edwin Rivas who fired a wicked shot flying towards the Glendale goals upper right corner. The shot looked promising but was saved by the Glendale goalkeeper.
The visitors were down but not out and carelessness with the ball by the Raiders allowed Glendale to dictate the tempo and sustain possession. Glendale became the ones on the attack for majority of the second half, swinging the ball out wide with their wingers looking to cross balls in to oncoming forwards and midfielders.
A ball that whipped in from the right side into a dangerous area forced the MC goalkeeper to over commit. A miscue between he and his defender left a Glendale forward with a free header that lofted effortlessly into the Raider goal.
The goal galvanized the visitors as they looked to keep their foot on the pedal. The high pressure forced MC to rely on the counter attack, that they did.
Precise passes off of a throwing near midfield led to the second Moorpark goal, midfielder Jose Mora MC #7 sent a long ball down the left sideline springing forward Saul Navarro MC #14.
Deep in the Glendale half, Navarro who split two defenders to get inside the box, had a look up and sent pinpoint cross right onto the feat of incoming midfielder Juan Herrera captain and MC#13.
Herrera calmly faked a defender and slid home a low shot just inside the Glendale front post. Giving the Raiders the lead with just under 10 minutes to go.
Demoralized by the score Glendale became desperate in their attack sending in long ball after long ball, hoping to get a lucky bounce. This left Glendale susceptible to a MC counter.
With less than 5 minutes to go, Glendale’s defense was beaten on the flanks for a second time, as two second half subs connected for a score. A hard shallow cross just across the face of the goal by MC #4 Theerawat Chanoroiet was easily tapped in by MC #2 Damien Acuna.
MC Head Men’s soccer coach Sean Roche lead the team to a victorious end by defeating the Vaqueros 3-1 and commented on the teams win.
“Defensively we did what we trained to do; I thought we were the superior team in the early going. We created four good opportunities. I felt that the determination of the group was much stronger today than it has been in past games; maybe we could build on that,” said Roche
The Raiders now have a league Record of 1-2-0 and an overall record of 2-7-1. They host Santa Barbara College this Tuesday Oct. 11 the game starts at 2 p.m.
