Story by Mireya Rodriguez
Sports Reporter
Lancers Kick Off League With a Tie
Jan. 13
The Lancer soccer team started league with a 1-1 tie against the Swordsmen of St. Paul on Friday at Keifer Stadium.
The Lancers came out strong but the Swordsmen also had a sense of urgency as they kicked off league.
Throughout the first half there was a constant fight for the ball as the Swordsmen showed off their teamwork and technical skills, making the Lancers hustle for possession.
After many missed shots by both teams entered halftime scoreless.
In the 49th minute, a Swordsmen was given a red card for pushing one of the Lancers before the corner kick was taken. This gave the Lancers a chance for a penalty kick.
Taking the shot freshman Jesse Baca made the first goal of the game, giving the Lancers a 1-0 lead.
This encouraged the Swordsmen to fight even harder for a goal changing the atmosphere to one of aggression.
A slide tackle earned junior Richard Castro a yellow card and he was forced to sit on the sideline.
The game pressed on.
As senior Gabriel Prieto made a run down the left side of the field he collided with a Swordsmen hurting his right knee and earning the opponent a yellow card.
Prieto was forced to sit out with the injury.
Soon the Swordsmen would take a shot at the Lancers keeper.
As senior Jake Bartlet dived he hit the ball with his fingertips but the ball backspinned into the left post, bringing the score to a 1-1 tie.
But game was not over as they went into a twenty minute overtime.
This extra time was not enough to give either team a chance to score.
Lancers Win Last Match Before League Starts
Jan. 12
After a slow start and missed opportunities the Lancers soccer team blew out the Cantwell- Sacred Heart Cardinals, 3-0, on Monday at Kiefer Stadium.
At the start of the game the boys lacked the momentum they needed to gain strong possession of the ball over the Cardinals. Seventeen minutes in, freshman Jesse Baca made the first goal of the game.
But despite their efforts the boys were unable to penetrate the Cardinals defense again and walked into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
During the second half the Lancers picked up the pace, showing the Cardinals their competitive edge.
With a pass from Baca, and a run down the middle, junior Edward Mancilla took a shot giving and placed it in the left-bottom part of the net to give the boys a 2-0 lead.
But the game wasn’t over.
The Cardinals took multiple shots keeping the Lancers on their toes, but their efforts weren’t rewarded.
In the last possible minute of the game a handball in the goal box would give the Lancers a penalty kick.
Mancilla made the shot giving the boys their 3-0 win.
“We had a slow start but we actually played good today,” Mancilla said. “We just need to work on our passing.”
Coach Ruben Gonzalez said the win was needed as the Lancers played their last game before league begins.
“It was a good win going into league,” said Coach Gonzalez. “But we need to work on coming out with a sense of urgency at the beginning of a game since league starts on Friday.”
