Lancaster, Calif. – Israel Vasquez scored the game-winning goal in the final minute of tonight's 2-1 win over the University of Antelope Valley. In similar fashion to their loss against Soka University, the Golden Eagles were able flip the script and find themselves on the winning side of the late match heroics by Vasquez. With the win, the Golden Eagles improve to 4-2 in Cal Pac play (5-6 overall).
Alfonso Gonzalez started the scoring by putting the Golden Eagles up 1-0 with a goal in the 18th minute. Felipe Mendizabal picked up an assist on Gonzalez's goal.
The score would remain 1-0, in favor of La Sierra through the halftime break, but the Pioneers tied the score at 1-1 when they converted a penalty kick in the 59th minute.
On the verge of heading to extra time, Irvin Alberto found Vasquez on a throw-in from out-of-bounds and Vasquez did the rest by putting it past the Pioneers goalkeeper and securing the eventual win, with just seconds remaining on the clock.
Thursday's win also kept the Golden Eagles in a three-way tie for third place in the conference standings. Needless to say it was an exciting finish for the Golden Eagles who will look to carry the momentum into Sunday's Cal Pac match versus Simpson University. The men will play the first match of a men's and women's doubleheader against the Red Hawks, starting at 11am.
