The Moorpark men’s soccer team took the field Thursday in their second match of the season, digging and clawing their way to a 2-2 tie against the Santiago Canyon College Hawks.

The Raiders were able to get out to an aggressive start, blasting three shots on goal within the first 15 minutes of the game.

The Hawks responded with a barrage at goalie Alex Orellana. At one point, they had four corner kicks and fired three shots on goal in a span of only three minutes. Fortunately, Orellana responded with great saves.

The Raiders, however, received some bad news. Forward and main target Gerardo Espinoza went down with a shoulder injury as he was charging the opposing team’s goal.

Espinoza, who had been roughed up the entire first half, was taken down hard near the box. He did not return, and his arm was put in a sling.

Head coach Sean Roche explained the extent of the injury.

“He didn’t dislocate it, it’s just sore,” Roche said after the game.

Roche believes he will be ready for the next game.
With Espinoza out of the lineup, the Raiders seemed out of sink offensively in the beginning of the second half.

Santiago started the half right where they left off in the first, attacking relentlessly.

They scored a goal in the 51 minute on a corner kick that bounced off multiple and through the hands of goalie Barry Uko, who replaced Orellana in the second half, an unorthodox move by the Raider coach.

“I normally don’t use two goalkeepers, but in this weather it behooves me to let all my goalkeepers play,” said Roche.

Down 1-0, the Raiders did not quit. Their persistence paid off when Kory Dapello struck a remarkable scissor kick in the 68 minute. The celebration was short lived, however, as the Hawks put in another goal on a breakaway three minutes later.

Down 2-1, the Raiders kept on charging, ignoring fatigue and exhaustion. Forward Matt Cresswell broke through a crowd of defenders and hammered the ball past the opposing goalkeeper to tie the game in the 81 minute, resulting in a tie, a satisfactory result for the Raiders who came back from 2 goals down.

“We always try not to lose any games at home,” said Roche. “In conference play we also get a point for a tie.”

Conference play starts in a little over three weeks, giving the Raiders time to prepare.

Moorpark’s next match is against Irvine Valley College Thursday, Sept. 4 at 4 p.m.