COD (6-4-3; 1-0) grabbed and early lead then had to play the final 63 minutes down a player after the starting keeper was sent off, but the Roadrunners prevailed on a game winning goal in the 74th minute, opening up Conference play with a win over the Chaffey Panthers of Rancho Cucamonga (4-7-2; 0-1), 2-1.

The Roadrunners played against Chaffey for the first time in program history in 2002 and hold a 13-15-3 overall record against the Panthers. Desert has a 9-5-2 record against the Panthers in Palm Desert.

The Roadrunners hosted their annual "Pink Cancer Awareness Game" as sophomore goal keeper Luis Lucio (Palm Desert Xavier College Prep) received the start, but in the 27th minute was red carded for contact with a Chaffey player. Freshman goal keeper Diego Esparza (Palm Desert H.S.) was left to wrap up the game, making four huge saves.

The Roadrunners got onto the scoreboard first, as freshman defender Aidan Brothers (La Quinta H.S.) connected with sophomore midfielder Alejandro Serrano-Carranza (Calexico H.S.) in the 37th minute to give Desert a 1-0 shorthanded advantage. The Panthers would tie the game at 1-1 in the 55th minute and the Roadrunners would take the lead for good in the 74th minute as sophomore midfielder Alexander Munoz-Maldonado (Thermal Desert Mirage) found freshman midfielder Malakai Martinez (Palm Springs H.S.) for the game winner.

The next match-up for the Roadrunners will be on the road at the Norco Mustangs on October 10. The Roadrunners played against Norco for the first time in program history in 2012 and hold a 6-4-1 overall record against the Mustangs. Desert has an 1-4-1 record against the Mustangs in Norco. The next home game for the Roadrunners will be on October 17, when Desert hosts the San Bernardino Valley Wolverines. Desert first competed against the Wolverines in 1981 and hold an 14-20-8 overall record against them. The Roadrunners hold a 7-11-2 record against the Wolverines in Palm Desert.

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

Information, Story & Photos provided by COD Sports Information.