COD Men’s Soccer fights back for tie with Panthers, 1-1

COD (5-6-7; 1-3-2) took a 0-0 draw into the second half in a must win Conference game, the Roadrunners had to respond to a converted PK, tying the Chaffey Panthers of Rancho Cucamonga (8-7-3; 3-1-2), 1-1.

From the opening kick of the "Trick-Or-Treat Game," freshman goal keeper Luis Lucio (Palm Desert Xavier College Prep) faced an onslaught early, as the Panthers packed the Desert end of the field most of the first half, but a valiant effort by the defense, plus Lucio's acrobatic stops, kept Chaffey off of the board. Shortly before the visitors were awarded a penalty kick, Lucio was carted off due to injury, leaving the keeping duties to freshman goal keeper Miguel Rangel Fuentes (Rancho Mirage H.S.). In the 68th minute, Chaffey converted their PK attempt and the Roadrunners spent the next 17 minutes furiously attempting to equalize. Their efforts were rewarded when sophomore defender Rosario Ramirez, Jr. (Thermal Desert Mirage) found sophomore forward Vasilios Syrengelas (El Centro Central Union) in a scrum in front of the net and Syrengelas poked a shot past the Panthers keeper to tie the game in the 85th minute.

The Roadrunners played against the Chaffey Panthers of Rancho Cucamonga for the first time in program history in 2002 and hold a 12-15-3 overall record against Chaffey. Desert has an 8-5-2 record against the Panthers at home. The next contest for the Roadrunners will be at the San Bernardino Valley Wolverines on November 1st, which will be their eighth conference game of the season. Desert first competed against the Wolverines in 1981 and hold a 13-20-8 overall record against them. The next home game for Desert will be Sophomore Day and will be played on Tuesday, November 8th at 2:00p against the Victor Valley Rams of Victorville. The Roadrunners first played against Victor Valley in 1989 and have an overall record of 15-15-3 against the Rams and an 9-5-1 record at home.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photo by Daniel Benitez.