(WALNUT) By John M. Sherrard – The Mt. San Antonio College Men's soccer team split two games in the Adidas/Azteca Tournament at the Mountie soccer complex Friday and Sunday, September 2nd and 4th, finishing third.
Six teams – Richland College, Texas; Evergreen Valley, San Jose; West Valley College, Saratoga; Oxnard College; Rio Hondo College; Mt. SAC – all participated in the two-day, two-game tourney and Richland finished as tournament champion.
Richland College, a five-time NJCAA Division III National Champion, was the only team to win two games, while Oxnard (1-0-1) finished second, the Mounties (1-1) third and local rival Rio Hondo fourth (1-0-1).
The Mounties lost their first game to Richland, 2-1, and shutout Evergreen Valley, 4-0.
Richland, top-ranked in the NJCAA Division III poll, jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the Mounties' sophomore midfielder Axel Mendez (Cathedral HS, Los Angeles) broke the shutout in the 90th minute with an unassisted goal for the 2-1 final.
On the second day of the tourney Mt. SAC's offense broke through with four goals and a shutout by freshmen goalkeeper Edwyn Gutierrez (Connections Academy) for the 4-0 win over Evergreen Valley College from the San Jose area.
The Mounties had four players score in their balanced attack, scoring two goals in each half.
Sophomore forward Michael Flores (Sierra Vista HS) and freshman forward Andre Gamboa (Diamond Bar HS) scored in the 12th and 42nd minute respectively for the 2-0 halftime lead. Sophomore defender Miguel Martinez (Garey HS) and Julio Velasquez (Warren HS) each assisted on the goals.
The second half was more of the same as the Mounties scored a pair of goals again. This time Mendez in the 46th minute, and Velasquez, 72nd minute, finished the scoring for Mt. SAC. Freshman midfielder Victor Aguirre (Oak Hills HS) and sophomore forward Martin Arrieta (John Muir HS) had the assists.
Gutierrez won his third game of the season, which included his second shutout.