An overtime goal by Glendale College’s Vaqueros forces the Raiders to settle for an overtime (2-2) draw on Tuesday at the Raider Pitch.

Two goals by freshman midfielder Sam Curren gave the Raiders a 2-1 lead early in the second half. The Raiders were on the verge of their second victory before the Vaqueros spoiled the party and snatched a precious overtime point.

“I thought we played the best we ever have [and] deserved the win,” Curren said. “It was not a penalty. It was shameful and I’m very upset about it.”

Encouraged by a convincing win over Hancock College last week, Moorpark set out to prove that its first victory, since Sept. 2013, was no fluke. The Raiders played with skill and confidence. They are beginning to mesh as a team with solid defense and audacious attacks.

Vaqueros scored first when a defensive lapse allowed Jesus Rosas to break through unimpeded to beat Moorpark goalkeeper Allan Montalvo in the 19th minute. Fear of imminent collapse was premature when the Raiders kept their poise and retaliated.

“Their first goal was soft on our part and we didn’t defend well on it,” Head Coach Sean Roche said. “I thought our goalkeeper did a very good job. He was the most consistent player on the field.”

The Raiders tenacity was rewarded in the 28th minute when Curren scored on a shot from a rebound to tie the score 1-1. Curren struck again in the 50th minute when he hit the target on another rebound to make it 2-1.

“I was in the right place at the right time,” Curren said. “Javier Hernandez’s shot hit [someone] and came back to me. I was fortunate enough to tap it in. Filipe [Luz] then went on a breakaway. The keeper hit it out, and I tapped in [the second goal].”

Moorpark almost had the clincher when Nathaniel Johnson’s shot was saved by goalkeeper Armando Aragonez, who deflected the ball over the bar in the 70th minute.

Montalvo made several key saves to keep the Raiders ahead. He had a clutch stop in the 43rd minute and made two pointblank saves in the 85th minute.

A repeat of Friday’s penalty save wasn’t in the cards for Montalvo when Rosas buried his shot in the top left-hand corner to end the game, 2-2.

Four precious points from two games lifted Moorpark (1-3-1) out of the cellar into seventh position, third from the bottom, in the Western State Conference.

“After the game, [the players] were creating their own team environment,” Roche concluded. “Their spirit is growing every day and we want them to be absorbed with the group.”

Moorpark plays a makeup game at College of the Canyons today, Oct. 8, at 4 p.m. The Raiders return to the friendly confines of the Raiders Pitch on Friday, Oct. 9 to take on Mission College (3-1-2), third in the WSC. Game time is at 2 p.m.