Vaqueros tie Santa Ana 2-2 in Regional, then fall on PKs

SBCC and Santa Ana couldn't determine a winner in 120 tough minutes of men's soccer on Saturday at La Playa Stadium. So, the Southern Cal Regional opener came down to penalty kicks and the Dons advanced by a 3-1 margin.

The eighth-seeded Vaqueros (10-4-6) and No. 9 Dons (10-6-5) were tied 2-2 after 90 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of overtime.

SAC goalie Frank Aguilar was the star of the PK shootout, blocking three of four shots and making one himself in the second round.

Roni Spektor scored his PK in the second round to tie it 1-1. Aguilar guessed correctly but the ball spun off his hands and into the net.

Wayne McClellan opened the PK session for the Vaqueros but his shot to the lower right was blocked. Marcello Aguirre gave the visitors a 1-0 lead. Abel Bautista made it 2-1 Dons with a third-round goal to the right and Joshua Castellon sealed the 3-1 PK win with a left-footed shot to the left side.

"PKs are a lottery," said SBCC coach John Sisterson. "Anything can happen. We practiced PKs this week but unfortunately they made more than we did. Their goalkeeper played very well. I was told that he was probably their best player."

The Vaqueros took a 1-0 lead at halftime when JahMikaili Hutton crossed a ball from the right and Kyle Nicklaw headed it in with 20 seconds to go in stoppage time.

Santa Ana tied it up at 58:10 on a left-footed shot from 15 yards by Edward Gonzalez. Ten minutes later, the Dons took a 2-1 lead when Bryan Oseguera slipped one inside the right post at 68:21.

Victor Huerta pulled down SBCC forward Christopher Robinson in the box. Saul Sosa, who had just entered the game two minutes earlier, drove the PK into the lower right as the goalie was diving to the left at 77:05.

The Dons outshot the Vaqueros 20-12 and both teams had seven shots on-goal.

"I thought everybody played well, when the subs went in they did well, and it was a competitive game," said Sisterson. "Overall, I was pleased with the performance. It's disappointing and the boys are all disappointed. We competed very well and sometimes you can hold your heads high when you lose because you competed well.

"It was a good season. We made the playoffs, so that means we're one of the top 16 teams in Southern California. And we have a good group coming back next year."