Pirates open season with 2-1 win over Roadrunners
COSTA MESA -- It was a strong showing for the Orange Coast College men's soccer team and the hard work paid off for a 2-1 nonconference win over visiting Rio Hondo College on Wednesday at the OCC Soccer Complex.
The 2011 season started off right for the Pirates as they jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Takuma Hori slipped a pass through two defenders onto the foot of Chase Nugent, who ripped a shot toward Rio Hondo goalkeeper Kevin Bustamonte. The shot was slowed down, but not stopped as the ball slowly crawled into the back of the net in the 24th minute of play.
Both teams went back and forth as Bustamonte and OCC keeper Tyler Folkins came up with some big saves throughout the game.
Finally, the Roadrunners took advantage of a defensive lapse and tied things up when Louis Cortez ripped a shot past Folkins in the final minute of the first half.
Early on the in the second half, the Pirates grabbed the lead for good when a corner kick was deflected off the head of Hori and found the noggin of teammate Dong-Gi Shin, who buried his header into the back of the net in the 56th minute for a 2-1 OCC advantage.
The Roadrunners kept the pressure and had an excellent chance to tie the game up late in the second half but a point-blank shot by Ignacio Villanueva was smothered by Folkins, keeping the Pirates out in front. Folkins finished the day with eight saves, including four that were from close range.
It was win No. 1 for first-year men's head coach Kevin Smith, taking over the program after longtime head coach Laird Hayes retired following the 2010 season. Smith is also the women's head coach as well as the softball head coach in the spring.
