SANTA ANA - The Dons turned a 2-1 halftime lead into a 5-1 victory over #6 Los Angeles Harbor College in the second round of the California Community College Athletic Association Men's Soccer Southern Regional Playoffs. With the win, the Dons advance to the Regional finals this Saturday, November 30 at #2 San Bernardino Valley College at 2:00 p.m. San Bernardino Valley defeated #10 Oxnard College 2-0 to advance to the Regional Finals.
LA Harbor (11-7-4) scored first with a goal in the 22nd minute when George Zuniga took a cross from Jose Gonzalez and scored on the far post. At that point, the score could have easily been 3-0 in favor of the visitors as the Seahawks had two quality scoring opportunities in the first 10 minutes. But LA Harbor couldn't capitalize on defensive errors by the Dons as Luis Trujillo made a save on the first attempt before the second attempt missed wide.
The Dons (15-4-4) bounced back quickly with the equalizing goal in the 27th minute when Leonardo Contreras scored on a free kick from just outside of the box. Contreras' shot was initially saved but the Seahawks goalkeeper was unable to control the ball and he dropped it into the goal.
Ivan Bastida scored the go-ahead goal 10 minutes later when he received a pass from Uriel Rebollar and fired a shot from the front of the goal to the far post to put the Dons up 2-1.
It was in the second half when the Dons began to pull away, with Trujillo recording the first goal of the second half in the 55th minute on a penalty kick. The penalty kick was set up when Contreras was fouled in the box as he attacked on the right side.
Contreras then scored his second goal of the match in the 72nd minute when a cross from Uriel Rebollar freed him for a shot against an empty net. Finally, Jonathan Roman headed in a cross from Contreras in the 75th minute for the Dons fifth goal.
Trujillo made eight saves for the Dons, including two that seemed to be sure goals, in 89 minutes of play before Edgar Bahena closed out the game. Bryan Hernandez made three saves for Harbor while allowing all five goals in 90 minutes.
