Offense Missing Lately for PCC Men’s Soccer

The slumping Pasadena City College men’s soccer team lost its third straight South Coast Conference game, beaten by Long Beach City College, 1-0, Tuesday at Robinson Stadium. The Lancers have scored just eight goals in their last eight matches resulting in a 2-4-2 record in that span.

PCC is 4-7-3 overall and 2-4-1 in SCC play. LBCC improved to 5-4-4 and 3-3-1 despite the Lancers outshooting the Vikings, 14-12.

Long Beach scored the game’s lone goal in the 48th minute when Erik Carbajal perfectly placed a free kick from 23 yards out into the upper left corner of then net.

Pasadena had few quality scoring chances as the Long Beach defenders beat the Lancers’ midfielders and forwards to loose balls in Vikings’ territory.

PCC goalie David Orellana made six saves, including a spectacular tipaway of a close-range blast by Osvaldo Yanez in the 16th minute.

Lancers’ head coach Edgar Manvelyan has been less than thrilled with the team’s lack of offense.

“We played better defense today than we did the previous two games, much better,” he said. “But we can’t seem to generate anything on offense. We’ve tweaked the lineup but our best players need to step up. We have enough season left to turn this around, but it’s up to our sophomores to realize we have to play with a sense of urgency.”

On Friday, Oct. 21, the Lancers will host El Camino College-Compton Center in a 1 p.m. kickoff at Robinson Stadium.