Strong finish lifts Pirates past Bobcats, 4-2

COSTA MESA -- After a few, rough last-minute results in recent contests, the Orange Coast College men's soccer team finished on its lead foot and rallied for a 4-2 Orange Empire Conference win over visiting Saddleback on Tuesday at the OCC Soccer Complex.

Strong midfield play from Ossy Portillo and Gabriel Garcia helped free up forward Brady Powell, who scored three goals to the lead the way for the Pirates (3-6-3 overall, 1-2-2 in the OEC). Luca Petruolo netted OCC's other goal, while in net, the combination of Cesar Pedroza-Acosta and Michael Matzuy each allowed a goal with three saves in their 45 minutes of work. 

Coast struck first on the Bobcats (4-3-4, 1-1-3) when Zenden Berbari split the Saddleback defense and connected with Powell on a breakaway attempt. From there Powell calmly chipped a shot past Bobcat keeper Tyler Bourbonnais in the 9th minute to put Coast ahead, 1-0.

It stayed that way until the 42nd minute when Jason Starcks found the back of the net for the Bobcats and the first half ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

Just eight minutes into the second half, the Bobcats earned themselves a penalty shot and Andrew Jun buried his opportunity, giving Saddleback a 2-1 advantage.

But the Pirates continued to pick apart the Bobcat defense and in the 61st minute, Portillo slipped a pass to a streaking Petruolo who didn't miss on his shot, tying the match at 2-2.

Less than five minutes later Powell took a nice pass from Petruolo and found the back of the net for the second time in the 65th minute, putting the Pirates up, 3-2.

And, in the 75th minute Powell took advantage of a fallen Saddleback defender and chipped a tough-angled shot into the far corner to complete his hat trick for the afternoon.

Coast will return to action on Friday at Irvine Valley College, beginning at 3 p.m. OCC's next home match will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 29, inside LeBard Stadium against Fullerton College, beginning at 7 p.m.