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Sunny Hills teammates swarm Sam Takaki (No. 6) after his goal in the final minute of second overtime gave the Lancers a 3-2 victory over Buena Park. (Photos courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone).
After a look at records, it doesn’t appear any team has gone 10-0 in Freeway League boys soccer.
It’s pretty easy to see why. After only three games in the 2023 season, only one team, Sunny Hills, still has a chance to accomplish that feat this year.
To demonstrate that challenge, Sunny Hills had to score in the final six minutes of regulation and then again in the final minute of the second overtime Wednesday to edge host Buena Park, 3-2.
“We tell our players that most letdowns come in league matches because of the pressure,” Coach Mike Schade said after his Lancers improved to 12-0-3 overall and 3-0 in league. “That can’t be us.”
Wednesday’s pressure was immense.
To see the slide show, click on the first photo
The Lancers scored first, barely 10 minutes into the match on a goal by reigning CIF Division 3 Player of the Year, Matthias Brown.
But Buena Park tied the score on a goal by Edwin Corriquez 37 minutes into the match and then took a 2-1 lead in the 24th minute of the second half on a rocket goal by Edwin’s brother, Erik.
The score remained 2-1 until the 34 th minute when Sunny Hills’ Issac Morales put a shot into the corner of the net.
That set the stage for overtime, where, with less than a minute remaining in the second 10-minute session, Sunny Hills’ Sam Takaki came out of a collision with Buena Park goalie Jr
Rodriguez, collected the loose ball and put it in the net.
Buena Park coaches argued that Rodriguez had control of the ball and the collision should have been a foul, but the official ruled it was a 50-50 ball and Rodriguez did not have control.
Both goalies played dramatic games. Sunny Hills’ goalie AJ Sandoval stopped a penalty kick and Buena Park’s Rodriguez had a handful of spectacular saves on point-blank shots.
Neither team has any time to reflect on Wednesday’s match.
Friday Buena Park hosts Fullerton High, league co-champion last year and very talented again, and Sunny Hills travels to play rival Troy. Both matches begin at 3 p.m.
—Courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone
