By Erik Markus
La Habra Journal
Untimely defensive miscues doom the Raiders against Sunny Hills, as the Raiders dropped a home game 2-0 against the Lancers.
The Raiders (0-2) and Lancers (1-0-1) were neck and neck through 65 minutes of soccer, with the Raiders quieting a persistent attack from the Lancers.
“It was an evenly matched game and both teams showed strong desire to win,” head coach Jeff Gordon said.
But in the 66th minute, the Lancers were able to use a corner kick to create a scoring chance.
“We knew what they were going to do,” Jorge Montalvo said.
“It’s kind of a percentage thing, we had like 30 of them, we believe that eventually something is going to go in,” Gordon said.
The Raiders were able to block the initial cross, from Emily Miramontes, but Miramontes collected the ball again. With her left foot, she sent a ball in front of the box near the back post.
The coaches warned their team about back post runs, and sure enough it was a back post run that beat them.
The cross found feet as Jewels Zuniga was able to tap in the Lancer’s first goal.
“It was a great left footed cross, and a left footed finish,” Gordon said.
With the Lancers up a goal, the morale of the Raiders dropped and their energy level dipped.
“We have to look to the captains to keep everybody focused,” Montalvo said.
With the Lancers riding the confidence from their first goal, they quickly put the pressure back on the Raiders.
Sierra Chhoeung dribbled through defenders in front of the Raider goal, where she chipped a shot into the top left corner of the goal, out of reach of keeper Aerin Herrera.
The two goals were only separated by a minute and a half, but it was enough time for a tied game to quickly stretch to a seemingly untouchable two goal lead.
The Raiders would ultimately fall 2-0 against a stout, rejuvenated Lancer defense.
“We were patient today, sometimes you’re chasing a win so badly that you know you can never catch it,” Gordon said.
At 0-2, the Raiders will be faced with another tough challenge, facing Troy on the road.
