Abel Bautista battles ball for the ball for the Santa Ana College men’s soccer team. (Photo courtesy Cammie Lewis, Santa Ana College sports information)
Despite a 3-1 deficit going into the second half, the No. 12 ranked Santa Ana College men’s soccer team found a way to come back and defeat Taft College 4-3 on Friday afternoon.
Marcelo Aguirre scored the Dons only goal of the first half on a penalty kick while Taft came out hot with three early goals. But in the second half, Santa Ana began the comeback when Gilbert Garcia scored on an assist from Abel Bautista to make it 3-2.
Soon after, Joshua Castellon came up big with a header off a cross from Bautista to tie the score at 3-3 to set up an exciting finish.
With two assists on the day, Bautista was already having an outstanding match before he used a series of moves to set up the game winning shot that tucked into the right corner of the Taft goal. The sophomore midfielder now has three assist and three goals on the season.
The Dons extended their win streak to five with their second victory over the Taft Cougars (2-5-1), improving their record to 6-1 before beginning Orange Empire Conference play.
The team opens OEC play against Santiago Canyon College (2-6-1) on Tuesday. The Hawks won their last match against San Diego City 2-1 on Friday.
FOOTBALL TEAM LOSES TO VICTOR VALLEY 49-17
The Santa Ana football team suffered its second consecutive loss on Saturday night as the Dons traveled to Victor Valley College in week four of the 2019 season.
Santa Ana stayed within striking distance in the first half but saw the game slip away as the Victor Valley Rams scored 28 unanswered points in the third quarter.
The Dons continued to fight as they outscored the Rams 14-7 in the fourth quarter but it was too little, too late as they fell 49-17.
Christopher Garcia, Cross Faletoi and Kyle Hurry (Woodbridge High) split reps at quarterback for the Dons and combined to complete 20-of-38 with 153 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Garcia also led the team in rushing yards at 54 while Noel Posey rushed for 19 on seven attempts. Indiana Taylor led all SAC receivers with five catches for 32 yards.
HALL OF FAME INDUCTION ON OCT. 13
The 2019 Santa Ana College Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Sunday, Oct. 13 at Santa Ana College.
Seven former student-athletes and one state championship team have been selected to be inducted this year.
The 2019 Santa Ana Athletic Hall of Fame class includes Lohnnie Day (men’s basketball), Tom Dallape (football), Gary Meek (football), Dale Story (cross Country/track and field), Jake Vasquez (baseball), Dave Simcox (swimming/water polo), Tony Zuniga (baseball) and the 1999 men’s soccer state championship team.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM DROPS TWO
Santa Ana volleyball dropped a couple Orange Empire Conference matches against Irvine Valley and Riverside City last week. The Dons continue their season on Wednesday as they host Orange Coast at 6 p.m.
-Courtesy Santa Ana College
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