It is one thing to block a penalty kick. But to block a penalty kick and then the rebound off the block is outstanding.
East Union goalie Andres Garcia was outstanding Friday.
Late in the game, Garcia kept the Lancers ahead by two goals when he ranged to his left to knock down a penalty kick and then bull rushed the ball to prevent the deflection from finding the net as East Union defeated Lathrop 3-1 in the second round of pool play of the Lancer Pride Cup at Dino Cunial Field.
Earlier in the day, Lodi defeated the host team, 2-1.
“I told the shooter I knew where he was shooting,” Garcia said. “I went left because I knew that’s where the ball was going.
“And then I just ran right into the rebound.
With the score tied 1-1 in the second half, Esau Martinez snagged his own rebound and persisted for a goal to put the Lancers (1-2-4) ahead 2-1.
“The ball came to me on a deflection off of my own shot so I shot it and got it in,” Martinez said.
Two minutes later Giovanni Perez added an insurance goal off of a corner kick from Ervin Mendiola for the 3-1 lead.
The game was scoreless until the last minute of the first half when Omar Silva put East Union ahead 1-0 and then Javier Torres got the Spartans (2-3-2) on the board off of an assist from Ociel Mora.
Lancers coach Ronnie Green will be defending his 2020 NorCal championship this year, but he will be doing it with a lot of players who were in eighth grade for his 2-0 win over Harker of San Jose for that title.
“Our team is super young,” Green said. “I think we have six or seven sophomores and fundamentally we are just behind. We are getting there with the possessions, but we just have to finish.
“This was our breakout game and hopefully it changes our momentum now and gives some confidence to our goal scorers.”
In the morning match, Lodi scored in the second half to break the 1-1 halftime tie. Samir Azizpor scored the lone Lancers goal on a 30-yard direct kick.
This morning at 11:30 both teams conclude pool play with East Union facing Enochs and Lathrop playing Lodi.
Valley 2, Lathrop 2
In opening-round action, Javier Galvez scored off of a header from Brandon Rodriguez for the Spartans and Oliver Hernandez got the other Lathrop goal.
Sierra 3, Enochs 1
Timberwolves goalie Anthony Ayala did something goalies do not do very often – he posted an assist.
He let loose a bomb of a kick in opening-round action, bouncing it once on its way to the foot of Audie Garza for a goal. Emiliano Sanchez and Alejandro Paz added goals for Sierra (3-1) with Garza and Paul Pimentel Jr. each getting an assist.
The Timberwolves wrap up pool play this morning at 11:30 against Valley of Sacramento.
Sierra 1, Lodi 0
Scoreless until late in the game and down a man, Paz alertly jumped on a deflection from Garza’s shot and got the ball in the net for what proved to be good enough for an opening-round Timberwolves win.
“We wanted a win to get us into a good position for tomorrow,” Sierra coach Joe Pires said. “We were playing a man down, holding the ball and trying to get a counter.
“We got a shot, got a deflection off the keeper and Paz was there to kick it in.”
