San Bernardino, CA
The SoCal #10 ranked Cuyamaca Coyotes traveled the northbound 215fwy to face the #7 San Bernardino Valley College Wolverines in a daytime match. The Pacific Coast Athletic Conference champions, coming off a big win to clench the conference title and secure MVP and Coach of Year awards, were eager to get back to business on the pitch and look for revenge from an early season defeat by the Wolverines. Playing in the warm San Bernardino Valley sun, the conditions were perfect for a well contested battle of two familiar opponents. The fans, were not disappointed.
San Bernardino struck first in the 17th minute. The Wolverine's first goal coming from #2 Christian Torres. However, the Coyotes were not shaken as they continued to charge and look for opportunities and weaknesses in the SBVC Goalie. However, the Wolverine's defense prevented many opportunities to take shots on goal. However the Coyotes' #5 Enrique Rodriguez, and Cuyamaca's creative force and soccer maestro, finally saw his opportunity and took it. Rodriquez shot a blistering unassisted shot, scoring for the Coyotes and leveling the score at the 28th minute mark in the 1st half.
The Wolverines were relentless in controlling the ball for a large portion of the game. However, Cuyamaca Goalie #00 Pablo Torres was up for the challenge rejecting 7 total shots on goal. The second half, spectators rode the train of emotions as two of the state's best teams battled back and forth without much movement or hint that either team was tiring. That was until Cuyamaca's earlier scorer, Rodriquez retaliated from the physical abuse the SBVC players waged against him, now a marked Cuyamaca player. Rodriquez was ejected from the contest at the 62nd minute and the Coyotes would now have to play a man down the remainder of the contest. However, feeling the stress of being a man down, the Coyotes banded together and raised the level of play. Austin Barba found the back of the net assisted by Pablo Torres in the 70th minute of the contest. With the lead, the Coyotes only needed to run down the clock.
The Coyotes managed to outlast the Wolverines even being a man down. When the final whistle blew, the Coyotes had taken down the Wolverines 2-1 and will move on to the next round against the #15 Santa Barbara Vaqueros in a home contest Tuesday November 21st at 2pm. Admission is free and spectators are advised to bring beach chairs, or comparable seating for match as seating is limited.
Go Coyotes!