Against the Odds

Vanguard University’s men’s soccer team put an end to their three time losing streak last Sunday in the most profound of ways. As Concordia’s men’s soccer team approached Vanguard’s newly renovated field, they appeared confident in their standings. Being ranked No. 17 in the Golden State Athletic Conference gave Concordia the upper hand, but in the end, did not hold them through.

Although the game started slow, it ended in a fast paced race that extended into double overtime. Vanguard claimed their victory in the 105th minute of the game with senior, Luis Valdivia, from Oceanside, CA, scoring the winning goal, causing him to be named the GSAC Offensive Player of the Week.
The game truly began at 26:57, when the Lions went down 1-0 after to a penalty shot taken by Jeremy Gordon. Once this goal was made, 50 minutes passed without a single shot being taken past the goalie’s hands.

At 77:57, however, Vanguard claimed a goal, leaving their fans in an uproar as Sameer Mahmood took advantage of their penalty kick, sending the checkered ball out of the Concordia goalie’s grasp. Nine minutes later, Jesus Freguso, a junior from La Puente, CA, delivered another goal, giving Vanguard the first lead of the game.

Less than two minutes later, Concordia stole possession of the ball, lending Ryan Naime with the opportunity to sink a header into the net, leaving both teams to face each other in the overtime.
Between Vanguard and Concordia, the first overtime consisted of a total of five shots, with no complete goal. The second overtime session, however, led Vanguard to claim their victory at 105:24, leaving the scoreboard to be set at 3-2.

Vanguard fans are hoping that the team will continue to pave their way to becoming GSAC champions. A week after their double overtime success, the Lions beat Arizona Christian University 5-1. They are scheduled to play William Jessup University on Saturday, October 11th, at 1:30pm.