Pirates settle for 1-1 draw with Dons
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Santa Ana (1-7-4, 0-3-2) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
|
Orange Coast (1-7-3, 0-4-1) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
COSTA MESA -- In a match that saw one of the best overall performances of the season, the Orange Coast College men's soccer team had to settle for a 1-1 draw with visiting Santa Ana College on Tuesday at the OCC Soccer Complex.
The Pirates dominated the Dons, outshooting them 16-1 in the first half, but Coast could not get shots on frame as chance after change flew over the goal, or wide of goal.
Santa Ana recovered from a sluggish first half and evened the shots up a bit in the second half (OCC 11-9), but it was OCC who found the back of the net first.
After a long punt down the field by Ossy Portillo, OCC's Zenden Berbari controlled possession and was on a 2-on-1 break with teammate Shuntaro Suzuki. Berbari drew the defender and slipped a pass to Suzuki, who beat SAC goalkeeper Carlos Valentin in the 70th minute, breaking the scoreless tie.
But the Dons responded 10 minutes later on one of their few high-quality scoring opportunities of the afternoon. Alexander Hipolito found Adrian Chavez streaking down the left side and from there, Chavez found the corner of the net in the 80th minute, evening the match at 1-1.
That's where it stood the rest of the way, with Valentin earning 10 saves for the Dons, while OCC's Cesar Pedroza earned three saves.
Coast will play at Cypress on Friday, beginning at 3 p.m. OCC's next home match will be on Tuesday inside LeBard Stadium, against Fullerton College, beginning at 7 p.m. The first 150 Pirate fans through the gate will receive a free OCC scarf!
