Gilmore Saves 2-2 Tie For Men's Soccer At #11 Long Beach

Matthew Gilmore made an impressive 14 saves and Jorge Cedillo scored two penalty kick goals a few minutes apart in the first half as the Pasadena City College men's soccer team earned a 2-2 tie at state #11-ranked Long Beach City College on Tuesday.

The Lancers (5-5-3) stopped a 3-match losing streak and improved to 0-2-1 in South Coast Conference play despite being outshot by the talented Vikings, 31-9. Long Beach (7-3-2, 1-1-1) fired away on PCC, constantly using the speed and strong kicks from NCAA Division I prospects in Kayvon Monfared and Adrian Mendoza to go on the attack. 

PCC kept a bend, but not break approach with strong defensive play from Eduardo Sanchez (three shot blocks), Osmar Rojas, Alexander Petrossians, Jorky Aguirre, and Miguel Medina that kept the Vikings from piling up goals. The Lancers held a 2-1 halftime lead before LBCC scored the tying goal in the 62nd minute on a penalty kick goal by Monfared. 

Gilmore proved to be the story for Pasadena as the freshman stoned the Vikings on many scoring opportunities. In the 70th minute, the 5-foot-8 Gilmore made a diving stop on a breakaway by the 6-3 Monfared. In the 85th minute, he blocked a rifle shot from 10 yards out by Carlos Reyes. Fittingly, he stopped a deflected shot by Reyes as the referee blew the final whistle.

His 14 saves is the most by a PCC goalie since Steven Sandoval had 15 stops on Oct. 2, 2018 in a 3-1 loss at Mt. San Antonio.

Gilmore was helped by three shots off the posts by Long Beach players. 

Offensively, PCC was fortunate with back-to-back fouls in the box by the Vikings. Cedillo, the team's top scorer this year with six goals, roofed upper net on his first PK in the 26th minute. In the 28th minute and after an injury break, Cedillo deked Long Beach goalie Yancy Monterola and went center net for the PK goal and a 2-1 Lancers lead. 

Pasadena also had some other scoring opportunites, including Petrossians drive in the 22nd minute that was tipped over the bar by Monterola. James Baker just missed high on a 12-yard attempt in the 49th minute and Martin Ceja took a blast in the 82nd minute from the top of the box that also missed above the crossbar.

"We were lucky to get out with a tie, but our defense and Gilmore played well," said PCC head coach Francisco Cantero. "Long Beach really went after us and there was physical play by both teams. This was a big confident booster for us. We know we can keep up with these tough teams."

PCC next hosts Compton on Friday, Oct. 13 in a 4 p.m. SCC kickoff at Robinson Stadium.