Facing what looks like a must win game is never something a team wants say about their 4th  game of a 21 game season.  But that is what coaches Pat Noyes and Cameron Beaulac felt about the away game at Orange Coast College, and the Vikings stepped up with a 2-1 road victory to even their record at 2-2.

The past 2 games for LBCC were losses to Santiago Canyon and Rio Hondo, where the Vikings out shot the teams a combined  44 – 21.  According to Noyes, this team and system has been built to find the back of the net, certainly much more than the 2 goals that were produced from 44 shots over 2 games.  

With 10 minutes left in the game it looked like it might happen again.  LBCC had taken 14 shots with 6 on target while OCC had 5 with 2 on target.  The score was 1-0 OCC having scored at the 65th minute on a long thru ball that keeper Luis Romero (Paramount HS) was unable to track down before the OCC forward rolled it past him into the net. 

But LBCC fought until the end in this game. In minute 70 LBCC defender Ozzie Sepulveda (Jordan HS) was given a second yellow and was ejected.  This only seemed to fuel the fire of the Vikings  as they pressed for the equalizer.  It looked as if OCC was a man down as LBCC kept control of play.  In minute 85 after a scramble in the box in which several LBCC players kept the play alive – Freddie Tapia (Cabrillo HS) finished with a nice side foot into the net. 1-1 tie

In minute 87 Manny Bautista (Jordan HS) was put thru the defense by Jesse Casteneda (Jordan HS) on the break.  But a late flag for off side was greeted by Bautista with a jog over to the linesmen to place the ball on the ground for him.  This act earned him a straight red card. 

So  11 versus 9 with 3 minutes left plus the extra time added by the Referee surely LBCC would defend and be happy with a tie – right? Wrong ! They continued the onslaught towards the OCC goal and i2 minutes into extra time Casteneda and Tapia combined to beat 4 OCC defenders about 20 yards from the right side of the goal .  Freddy Tapia ripped a far post shot that was just wide as his brother Robert Tapia (Cabrillo HS) flashed into the back post and finished a nice one touch volley!. 2-1. 

Nice team defending in the final extra minutes including a very nice stretching top hand far post save by Romero for the Vikes preserved a hard fought win.  Lets hope this passion and intensity continue for the remaining games for this talented team.

LBCC tallied 22 shots with 12 on goal while OCC had  8 with 3 on goal.

LBCC plays San Diego City College Wednesday at LBCC with a 4 PM kick off. 

Thanks as always to Vikings coach Pat Noyes for the info!