COD Men’s Soccer ties game in 86th with PK against the Wolverines, 2-2

COD (4-2-4; 2-0-4) both teams went into the halftime break tied at 0-0 and then the second half exploded with offense as the Roadrunners scored first and last, grabbing their fourth tie in PCAC play, this time against the San Bernardino Valley Wolverines (4-5-2; 4-0-2), 2-2.

While neither team could find the back of the net in the first half, although opportunities were abundant as Desert took ten shots, seven on goal and the Wolverines took 18 with only one on goal. The Roadrunners defense in front of freshman goal keeper Uriel Lopez (Palm Desert H.S.) was incredible, forcing San Bernardino Valley to take many shots which were wide or high above the cross bar.

Early in the second half, the offensive attack shifted for Desert and the Wolverines had no answer as the Roadrunners got onto the board in the 51st minute. Sophomore midfielder Dante Delgado (Thermal Desert Mirage) grabbed an SBVC turnover and moved the ball up to sophomore forward Nathan Ocampo (Rancho Mirage H.S.) who crossed the ball over to freshman forward Alejandro Pimentel (Thermal Desert Mirage). Pimentel rifled the shot at the Wolverines keeper, but the SBVC net minder could not handle the hard shot and the ball ricocheted to the left and behind the goal keeper, where Pimentel pounded the shot into the lower middle of the net to give the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead.

That lead was short lived as Lopez made the save of the year 55th minute, a diving stop on a fading shot that was headed into the upper right corner of the net, only to surrender the equalizer on the very next Wolverines shot attempt, tying the game at 1-1.

San Bernardino Valley were awarded a penalty kick in the 69th minute and were turned away by Lopez who guessed correctly, diving to the right and punching the ball away. Then the Wolverines would take the lead in the 77th minute, making the score 2-1.

The Roadrunners were not done and in the 86th minute, Desert was awarded a penalty kick of their own and sophomore forward Luis Gastelum (Rancho Mirage H.S.) converted the chance to tie the game at 2-2.

While there was three minutes of injury time given, neither team could capitalize.

The next home game for Desert is Friday, when they continue Conference play by hosting a team that the Roadrunners are looking to defeat in the Desert for the first time in program history, the MiraCosta Spartans of Oceanside, game starts at 1 p.m.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photo by COD Sports Information assistant Ashtyn Lyneis.