Walnut, Calif. – In a disappointing second-round loss, the No. 2 seeded Mt. SAC Men's Soccer Team was defeated 4-2 by No. 15 seeded Pasadena City College in the SoCal Regionals on Saturday, November 23. The Mounties, who had earned a first-round bye due to their strong regular season performance, finished the season with an overall record of 14-4-4. Despite their efforts, they were unable to advance to the next round, while Pasadena City moves on to face No. 10 seeded Cuyamaca in the third round on Tuesday, November 26.
The Lancers struck first in the 15th minute, with Andrew Perez capitalizing on an opportunity with an unassisted 6-yard strike. Mt. SAC responded 10 minutes later as Jon Jay Joseph leveled the score with a hard-driven goal from 15 yards, assisted by Kenneth Flores.
The back-and-forth continued as Pasadena regained the lead in the 30th minute with a penalty kick by Angel Nolasco. However, the Mounties equalized just before halftime with a penalty kick of their own, converted by Allan Rosales, sending the teams in halftime tied 2-2.
The second half remained competitive, but Pasadena City's Angel Ballesteros broke the deadlock in the 80th minute with a blast from 8 yards, assisted by a precise header pass from Nolasco. In the final moments, Alex Petrossians secured the win for Pasadena with a one-timer in the 89th minute, off a short set play from Ballesteros.
Despite firing eight shots on goal, the Mounties were thwarted by solid performances from Pasadena's goalkeepers, Axel Espinoza and Rayshon Robert. Meanwhile, Mt. SAC goalkeeper Alex Ledesma faced difficulty, as all four of Pasadena's shots on target found the back of the net.
The loss was particularly tough for the Mounties, who had dominated the Lancers 5-0 in the South Coast Conference Tournament on November 12. With hopes of a deeper playoff run and a state title, the team fell short of their goals this season. However, they have much to be proud of, with a season marked by hard work, growth and strong performances. Thank you for an incredible run, and we look forward to seeing the team continue to improve next year. Go Mounties!
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.