MiraCosta Stuns El Camino in Playoffs

TORRANCE, Calif. - The El Camino College Warriors men's soccer were upset at home again for the second year in a row against MiraCosta College after dropping a 3-2 game against the Spartans at the Warrior Soccer Field on Saturday in the secound round of the 3C2A Southern California Regional Playoffs.  

The No. 4 Warriors had a 2-1 lead in the midway through second half but were forced to play a man down over the final 23 minutes and stoppage time.  The Spartans finally broke down the Warrior defense twice during the final minutes of the game. 

Like last year's game, the Spartans took a 1-0 lead in the 3rd minute of the game.  Lincoln Newcomer scored on a rebounded shot after a save from Luis Avelar on a shot from Charaboy Inestra.

After the early Spartans goal, the Warriors began to assert themselves into the game.  Finally in the 43rd minute, a Spartans defender fouled Juan Tibocha on a high boot on the edge of the 18-yard box. The referee gave the Warriors a penalty kick and Jaden Hancock stepped up and drilled his 17th goal of the season into the side of the net.

The score was tied 1-1 into halftime with both sides having four shots a piece.

In the 57th minute after a foul outside the box, the Warriors took a 2-1 lead in the game. Alexander Salas scored his second goal of the year on a perfect free kick to top right corner of the box.

The Spartans were awarded a penalty kick in the 61st minute after the referee called the Warriors goalkeeper for a foul on Dominik Wicks. On Wick's penalty attempt, Avelar made the kick save on his shot down the middle to preserve the Warriors lead.

The game spiraled it's way out the Warriors hands in the 68th minute after the referee called Noah Edwards for a straight red card.  

However, the Warriors almost made it a 3-1 game in the 78th minute after a quick counter attack that Jaden Hancock attempt to chip the keeper but the ball went just over the crossbar.

The Spartans then barraged the Warriors goal with six shots after the red card until they finally broke the Warriors defense in the 89th minute. Danny Barbosa found himself in an open position near the goal and scored to the far post after a cross from Silas Tackaberry to make it a 2-2 game.  

With six minutes of added time, the Spartans scored the game winner in the 95th minute. Cesar Cruz beat the Warriors goalkeeper to a ball near the inside post from a cross from Steven Runner to send the Spartans to the third round of the 3C2A Southern California Regional Playoffs.

The Warriors finished the season with a 12-6-6 overall record.