Nolasco 2 Goals As Men's Soccer Advances With Round 1 Playoff Win

Angel Nolasco scored two goals and Ariel Hernandez headed in another as the #15 seed Pasadena City College men's soccer team won in its first SoCal Regional Playoff appearance in eight years, shutting out #18 Bakersfield, 3-0, at Robinson Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

The Lancers upped their overall record to 14-8 and advances to play at #2 seed Mt. San Antonio College on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m.

PCC is 0-2 v. the Mounties (14-3-4) this season, but sometimes third matchups between two teams familiar with one another can lead to a different result. 

Against Bakersfield (11-7-5), PCC jumped out in front in the third minute when Jose Perez sent in a lead pass that Nolasco got free into a 1-on-1 with the Renegades goalie. The sophomore rolled in a shot into the far corner for a 1-0 lead.

In the 29th minute, reserve Cristian Villegas raced into the left corner of the box, then sent a cross that Hernandez headed in for his seventh goal of the season.

Seven minutes into the second half, Nolasco dribbled up field and slithered through the Bakersfield defense, sending a 10-yard drive for his second goal of the game and fifth of the year. 

Pasadena dominated, outshooting Bakersfield, 14-6. Lancers goalie Rayshon Robert only had to make four saves, but two were outstanding stops on the only two true scoring chances by the Renegades late in the second half. 

"We really set the tone in the first half that let us control the whole game," said PCC head coach Francisco Cantero.  "The first 45 minutes were the best half we played all season, creating great scoring chances and not allowing any shots. All around,  it was a great team performance and we look forward to having another opportunity v. Mt. SAC."

The Lancers have twice made long runs in the postseason, making it to the regional finals before losing in 2016 and getting as far as the state semifinals in 2002--the program's best finish in school history.