The Fresno City College men’s soccer team defeated Folsom Lake College 3-0 in their home match on Friday, Oct. 25.

Heading into the match, the Rams were riding a rough three game stretch by the teams’ standards. FCC started that stretch with a close win against Modesto Junior College, in which they gave up their second and third goals of the season.

Their next two matches ended in a pair of ties to San Joaquin Delta and Cosumnes River College by scores of 2-2 and 1-1 respectively. Friday’s opponent, Folsom Lake, stood as their greatest challenge yet, with a nearly identical record at 10-1-5.

FCC opened the scoring seven minutes into the match when freshman forward Michael Gonzalez assisted a goal by sophomore forward Eduardo Segura.

The first half would continue with back and forth play, as the two teams played with mirrored intensity and energy.

“I didn’t think we outplayed them much in the first half,” said head coach Eric Solberg. “I think the difference was emphasizing travel and pressing their backline. When we pressed on the midfielders, they pressed. Same goes for the defenders.”

At the half, Solberg talked with the team to establish the differences between the two squads, emphasizing the need for pressure at the top and creating opportunities to pick the ball away. 

“We just needed our forwards to work more. As much as they’re out of the defense, that’s where it all starts, and I thought they did a much better job doing that in the second half,” said Solberg.

The Rams brought that plan into the second half and executed it with efficiency, taking the steam out of the Folsom Lake’s unit.  FCC burst out of the gate with improved energy, personified by the sophomore forward tandem of Mason Gonzalez and Eduardo Segura.

At 55:00, Gonzalez rose over the defense to header in the Ram’s second goal of the evening. Segura picked up an assist on the play.

Three minutes later, forward Michael Gonzalez again assisted a goal by Segura, putting FCC up 3-0 for good. For the rest of the night, the only pressure Folsom Lake would apply would be on themselves.

Segura’s fingerprints were all over this game, which perfectly represents his importance to the success of the Rams. He had been on limited minutes during their rough stretch, and he says the journey back was difficult.

“It took me a couple of weeks to get back. The rehab process is slow and you’ve just got to try to be patient,” said Segura.

Earlier this season, he suffered a bone contusion in his right foot. The quick work to get back on the field resulted in lingering minor discomfort. 

“Before, we’d give him 10 days off, and he’d get reinjured right away. We took a longer break this time and he seems to have responded well,” said Solberg. 

Solberg praised Segura’s many talents on the pitch, adding to why he played as a forward rather than a midfielder against Folsom Lake.

“At the next level, he’s probably a wide player, but he creates so much havoc up top because of his energy – changing gears and putting pressure on the other team. And that was probably [Folsom Lake’s] downfall today,” said Solberg

Segura will cautiously be put back on limited rest during FCC’s home match against College of Sequoias on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 2 p.m.