COD (9-3-3; 3-0) had their hands full from the get go, then the offenses for both teams broke through in the second half, as the Roadrunners used a late surge to chase off the Victor Valley Rams of Victorville (2-3-3; 1-2), 4-2.

Desert has a 15-14-2 all-time record against Victor Valley, including a 9-5-1 record in Palm Desert.

Both teams would battle to a hard fought draw in the first half and then the flood gates opened in the second half.

Desert would get onto the scoreboard first with a goal in the 54th minute, when sophomore defender Ezequiel Minero (Desert Hot Springs H.S.) connected with state goal scoring leader freshman forward Jorge Quintero (Thermal Coachella Valley) for his 15th goal of the season, giving the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead.

Less than 10 minutes later, Victor Valley would equalize, but in the 68th minute the Raodrunners would regain the lead on a pass from sophomore midfielder Gilberto Uribe (Thermal Coachella Valley) to Minero for his forth of the season, giving Desert a 2-1 lead.

Two minutes later and after a series of miscues in front of the Roadrunners net, the Rams would tie the game once again, this time at 2-2.

Desert would once again regain the lead in the 76th minute when sophomore midfielder Emmanuel Munoz (La Quinta H.S.) lobbed a pass to Quintero for his 16th of the season, giving the Roadrunners a 3-2 advantage.

In the 81st minute, sophomore midfielder Erick Guzman (Cathedral City H.S.) put the game out of reach as he scored his second goal of the season on an assist from Quintero.

Freshman goal keeper Sebastian Ascencio (La Quinta H.S.) was not very busy, but he faced seven shots, two were on goal and both snuck by him.

The next game for Desert is on Friday, October 22 at 4 p.m. at the Norco Mustangs. The Roadrunners first met Norco in 2012 and have a 3-3-1 record against the Mustangs, in the seven times these teams have played one another, Desert has never won at Norco, they are 0-3-1 in "Horsetown USA."

The next home game for the Roadrunners is on Friday, October 29 at 1 p.m. versus the Chaffey Panthers. Desert first faced off with the Wolverines in 2002 and has an 11-14-2 record against Chaffey, including a 7-5-1 record in Palm Desert.

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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 Michael Leone Photography (f8leone@yahoo.com).