February 12 v. Fountain Valley
Due to Los Alamitos cancelling their second league meeting with the Aztecs, the game against the Fountain Valley Barons took on must-win importance for Esperanza. A win against the Barons would guarantee first place in the Sunset League for the JV men.
Due to an injury to Connor Nelson the day before, the Aztecs started backup goalie Tyler Valeo (11).
The Aztecs dominated play in the first portion of the match, but despite many chances, couldn’t put the ball in the net to take the lead.
That changed in the 14th minute, when David Vasquez (8) crossed a ball from the right side of the penalty area. Austin Lent (21) dummied the ball across the face of the goal where Damon Baker (10) waited. His left-footed shot penetrated the Fountain Valley goal, and the Aztecs had a 1-0 lead.
It stayed 1-0 until the Aztec defense ran into a bit of bad luck. A clearance by an Aztec defender didn’t get over the head of a Baron forward, who took the hard shot off his face. The ball ricocheted to the right of the 18-yard box, where another Fountain Valley player chipped the ball over the goal keeper into the far post to tie the match at 1-1.
The second half saw Damon Baker (10) inserted in the net as keeper. In the 38th minute, a Fountain Valley corner kick found the head of an unmarked Baron 1 yard from the goal, past a diving goalie, and the Barons had a 2-1 lead.
Desperate for an equalizer, the Aztecs put furious and unending pressure on the Fountain Valley side, but couldn’t get the tying goal.
In the 62nd minute, however, Chris Berkeley (3) took a shot from 21 yards out, which found the back of the net, and Esperanza had their equalizer.
The Aztecs unleashed an offensive onslaught anxious to win the game and claim first place, but various chances fell short, and the game ended in an 2-2 draw, which felt like a loss.
The Aztecs left the game feeling they had lost their chance at the top spot in the league. A few hours later, however, Coach Vodak Hawkins found out Los Al had not played their game, and the Aztecs ended up Sunset League Champions!