The Pierce Men’s soccer team’s two-game win streak is over due to a 1-2 loss to the Citrus College Owls on Oct. 24.
The team got off to a slow start and allowed Citrus to control the run of play for most of the first half.
Head Coach Julio Castillo was disappointed with the team’s early performance.
“We win two games, and all of a sudden, it got into our head where we can relax,” Castillo said.
Citrus College is one of the top-ranked teams in the Western State Conference.
In the eighth minute, Citrus scored off a pass from the right side of the Pierce goal to the top of the six-yard box.
Citrus maintained the pressure and scored again in the 25th minute off a shot deflected by goalkeeper Matthew Ceja, who had to make several saves in the first half.
The Pierce defense was able to keep their team in the game.
Central defenders Santana Sakai and Alex Nazaryan played a solid game.
They were successfully able to use the offside’s trap on several occasions.
Central defender Alex Nazaryan said they allowed Citrus to control the game early.
“We started off really slow, which is how we start every game,” Nazaryan said. “We do pick it up every single time and dominate at the end.”
Pierce was able to shift the momentum to their favor.
Their efforts were rewarded in the 31st minute when Citrus committed a foul in their box and a penalty kick was awarded.
Midfielder Gilberto Chavez was able to convert, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
Coach Castillo’s squad came out in the second half with newfound intensity and dominated play in the Citrus end of the field.
Citrus players could not match Pierce’s speed and finesse and committed several fouls resulting in three yellow cards being issued.
Citrus had one chance late in the game, but a close-range header went off the goal post.
Midfielder Gilberto Chavez was also disappointed in his team’s performance.
“As a team we did pretty okay,” Chavez said. “I feel like my team could have done better.”
Although it was a tough loss, Chavez and their team have a plan to improve for the next game.
“We just put our heads down and work,” Chavez said. “I just focus on the next game and nothing else but the next game.”
Pierce created several scoring opportunities but could not finish.
Playing on the left side of midfield, Chavez was able to advance the ball and took a blistering shot from outside the box.
The Citrus goalkeeper made an outstanding save to keep the ball out of the upper corner of the net.
Castillo offered some words of encouragement to his team to motivate them.
“It’s about putting your foot on the pedal, keep the gas on, keep momentum, keep digging and keep working,” Castillo said.
Castillo appreciated his team’s overall effort.
“I understand it’s a first-year program and everybody tells me the same thing, but it’ll come, it’ll come.”
Castillo added that he loves the effort and intensity of his team.
“We keep fighting till the end,” Castillo said.
Citrus improved to 9-4-3 overall and 4-1 in conference play.
Although it was a close game, Citrus outshot Pierce 5-4.
The loss drops Pierce to 4-8-2 overall and 2-3 in conference play.
The Brahmas’ next game is this Friday at 6 p.m. against Glendale.