The Rustlers'(2-4-0) traveling woes continue to haunt them as they lose on the road again, to Cuyamaca College (2-1-2). Cuyamaca started off quickly with a goal in the 1st minute of the game off of a defensive turnover by the Golden West. The quick goal seemed to wake the Rustlers up and got the team refocused on the challenge at hand.
The Rustlers leveled the score in the 20th minute when Juan Medina put in a beautiful cross from a corner kick that were just beyond the outstretched fingers of the Cuyamaca goalkeeper. Alex Elkhoury saw the ball drop right to his foot, where he made no mistake and rifled the shot into the back of the net. The hosts were, almost immediately, able to regain the lead in the 22nd minute.
In the 33rd minute, Jaime Rios spotted space behind the defense where he chipped a pass just over the head of the defender to Philip Cardoso who made a great run to beat the goalkeeper to the ball. Philip saw the goalkeeper coming out and decided to hit the ball first time over the goalkeeper and saw it drop just in time to hit the back of the net. Half time saw the teams tied at 2-2.
Some tactical adjustments were made at the half and Golden West began to put the pressure on the Coyotes. The game appeared to be turning in favor of the Rustlers when, in the 56th minute, Philip Cardoso left the field in an ambulance after suffering a broken clavicle from an incidental fall to the ground. The break in waiting for the emergency response seemed to allow Cuyamaca to regain some energy as the match got back underway.
The Rustlers continued to pressure the hosts with several offensive opportunities and seeing multiple shots blocked by defenders or saved by the goalkeeper. In the 73rd minute, the Coyotes were awarded a penalty for a handball in the penalty area, which they finished to go ahead 3-2. Despite their efforts, the Rustlers were unable to get a goal back and saw their losing streak continue.
The men have no time to dwell on the loss, as they host El Camino College- Compton Center today at 3pm.
