PHOTOS: Sunny Hills notches late goal then defeats Buena Park in overtime thriller

Sunny Hills teammates swarm Sam Takaki (No. 6) after his goal in the final minute of second overtime gave the Lancers a 3-2 victory over Buena Park. (Photos courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone).

After a look at records, it doesn’t appear any team has gone 10-0 in Freeway League boys soccer.

It’s pretty easy to see why. After only three games in the 2023 season, only one team, Sunny Hills, still has a chance to accomplish that feat this year.

To demonstrate that challenge, Sunny Hills had to score in the final six minutes of regulation and then again in the final minute of the second overtime Wednesday to edge host Buena Park, 3-2.

“We tell our players that most letdowns come in league matches because of the pressure,” Coach Mike Schade said after his Lancers improved to 12-0-3 overall and 3-0 in league. “That can’t be us.”

Wednesday’s pressure was immense.

To see the slide show, click on the first photo

Sam Takaki gathers ball after colliding with Buena Park goalie Jr Rodriguez in front of the Buena Park goal and scores the game-winning goal.

Buena Park’s Erik Corriguez put his team ahead 2-1 with a goal in the 24th minute of the second half.

Brotherly love: Erik Corriquez, left, is congratulated by brother Edwin (4) after scoring Buena Park's first goal.

Issac Morales scored in the 34th minute of the second half to send Sunny Hills into overtime.

Teammates Brayden Weimbolt (25) and Matthias Brown (15) celebrate Issac Morales’ second-half goal for Sunny Hills.

Buena Park goalie Jr Rodriguez made a number of spectacular saves, including one on this point-blank shot by Sunny Hills’ Anthony Aguilar-Casillas (13).

Teammates celebrate a Sunny Hills penalty kick save by goalie AJ Sandoval.

Sunny Hills playerAnthony Aquilar-Casillas kicks the ball away from Buena Park’s Angel Cristobal.

Sunny Hills’ Anthony Aguilar-Casillas leaps over a sliding tackle by Buena Park’s Erik Corriquez.

Buena Park’s Angel Cristobal (8) and Sunny Hills’ Edwin Benavidez chase the ball.

Buena Park’s Luis Salas (10) and Sunny Hills’ Ethan Castro duel for the ball.

Buena Park’s Emanuel Jimenez (29) drives the ball upfield.

Buena Park’s Luis Salas (10) and Sunny Hills’ Brayden Weimholt leap for the ball.

Sunny Hills’ David Rezko (9) shields Buena Park’s Isaias Valdes from the ball.

Buena Park’s Emanuel Jimenez (29) deflects ball away from Sunny Hills’ Matthias Brown.

Henry Garcia flies past Buena Park’s Luis Salas (10) pushing the ball upfield.

Sunny Hills’ Matthias Brown wound up in the assistant referee’s flag while trying to keep ball in play.

The Lancers scored first, barely 10 minutes into the match on a goal by reigning CIF Division 3 Player of the Year, Matthias Brown.

But Buena Park tied the score on a goal by Edwin Corriquez 37 minutes into the match and then took a 2-1 lead in the 24th minute of the second half on a rocket goal by Edwin’s brother, Erik.

The score remained 2-1 until the 34 th minute when Sunny Hills’ Issac Morales put a shot into the corner of the net.

That set the stage for overtime, where, with less than a minute remaining in the second 10-minute session, Sunny Hills’ Sam Takaki came out of a collision with Buena Park goalie Jr
Rodriguez, collected the loose ball and put it in the net.

Buena Park coaches argued that Rodriguez had control of the ball and the collision should have been a foul, but the official ruled it was a 50-50 ball and Rodriguez did not have control.

Both goalies played dramatic games. Sunny Hills’ goalie AJ Sandoval stopped a penalty kick and Buena Park’s Rodriguez had a handful of spectacular saves on point-blank shots.

Neither team has any time to reflect on Wednesday’s match.

Friday Buena Park hosts Fullerton High, league co-champion last year and very talented again, and Sunny Hills travels to play rival Troy. Both matches begin at 3 p.m.

—Courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone