PHOTOS: Late goal lifts Sunny Hills to win in opening round of So Cal Regionals

Sunny Hills players get together for a picture after Tuesday’s win. (Photos courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone).

In a match where the first six goals were spectacular, it was a subtle touch that decided Tuesday’s So Cal Regional Division III soccer playoff between Sunny Hills and Panorama High.

The game-winner came in the 72^nd minute when Sam Takaki gently redirected a shot by Tyler Ip into the net to give the Lancers a 4-3 victory over the Pythons.

“I really didn’t do much,” Takaki said. “Tyler had the shot and I just let it bounce off my foot.”

It may not have been much, but it was enough to advance the CIF Division III champion Lancers to a second-round match at Graces Memorial (19-1-1) of Bakersfield.

To see the slide show, click on the first picture:

Sam Takaki (left) and Matthias Brown scored all of Sunny Hills’ goals in a 4-3 victory over Panorama High.

Matthias Brown (15) takes a bow after scoring the first of three goals. Teammate is Henry Garcia (28).

Sam Takaki’s goal in the 72nd minute gave Sunny Hills a 4-3 win over Panorama High.

Sunny Hills’ Michael Franco wins the scrum for ball with Panorama High’s Carlos Medina (21).

Panorama High goalie Anderson Martinez beats Sunny Hills’ Matthias Brown to the ball.

Sunny Hills’ Tyler Ip plays the ball away from a Panorama High attacker.

Sunny Hills’ Daniel Park controls the ball at midfield.

Sunny Hills’ Logan Connor splits Panorama High’s Hector Caldera (7)and Kevin Renderos (10) in battle for the ball.

Sunny Hills’ Sam Takaki and Panorama High’s Pablo Mayen joust for the ball.

Sunny Hills scored first in the 7^th minute and after the match a reporter for the student newspaper asked Lancer Coach Mike Schade his reaction to the goal.

“I told them I hope we win 1-0,” Schade said.

That dream didn’t last long. After the early Lancer goal, the first of three by junior Matthias Brown, who was celebrating his 17^th birthday, Panorama countered 10 minutes later on a rebound by Kevin Renderos to tie the score.

The Lancers’ regained the lead in the 35^th minute on Brown’s second goal, but that was neutralized by sophomore Cristopher Romero three minutes later. Brown countered again with his third goal less than a minute before halftime.

Romero squared things again three minutes into the second half and the teams battle furiously until Takaki’s goal with eight minutes remaining.

The Match was Sunny Hills’ 26^th match of the season (19-3-4) and it was only the second time that the Lancers had scored more than two goals.

—Courtesy Jim McCormack,. For OC Sports Zone