Penalty Kick Helps FCC Take Victory

Fresno City College men’s soccer team defeated West Hills College Lemoore at home on Oct. 24. FCC got another win against a tough opponent with a score of 3-1.

During the first half of the game, FCC and West Hills kept the ball in the middle of the field with no control from either side. It wasn’t until the 20th minute when forward Johnny Rodriguez scored the first goal, allowing FCC to move up 1-0.

The remainder of the first half consisted of FCC maintaining control of the ball. West Hills tried to take the ball from FCC, but it was mostly the Rams who were managing the ball up and down the field.

Rodriguez headed the ball and it came close to the net, but West Hills goalie Cristopher Sanchez dove for the ball last minute and ended up saving the goal.

The first half ended with FCC taking the lead of 1-0 into the the locker room.

The second half of the game consisted of West Hills playing catch up to FCC. Both teams kept on the attack, but with only FCC having success.

Midfielder Alex Covarrubias scored the second goal of the game making the score 2-0 and FCC taking a larger lead.

West Hills stepped up their game trying to make the game closer and bringing some hope for a comeback. They began to have more success in the midfield.

West Hills’ hopes for a comeback became a reality when FCC got called for a foul inside the box, giving a penalty kick and a sure goal to West Hills.

Momentum was on West Hills’ side, but FCC was not giving up their lead and decided to make it larger. It was in the 73rd minute that midfielder Matheus Araujo scored the goal that put the game away for FCC.

FCC won the game 3-1, putting them one step closer to a conference title.

“I feel like we played pretty poorly; we were lacking energy, we played lethargic– but sometimes you gotta win ugly,” said head coach Eric Solberg. “The season is going pretty well so far, we’re level 1 in 5, we’re one of the top teams in California. To some degree, I think they gave it all their best.”