SANTA ANA, Calif. - No. 12 Santa Ana Men's Soccer is moving on to round two of the CCCAA SoCal Regional Playoffs after topping No. 21 Santa Barbara City in penalty kicks on Wednesday afternoon.
Sophomore goalkeeper James Martinez came up clutch after being inserted toward the end of overtime in order to be used for the shootout. The move paid off for the Dons as the keeper out of Fountain Valley dove to his right to record a save on Santa Barbara's second attempt.
The Dons secured the win as they put away all five penalty kicks with sophomore Jesse Mancilla capping the match with the final goal.
SBCC made the Dons earn the win, getting 12 shots off in the game and scoring the tying goal in the closing seconds of regulation.
Santa Ana's only goal came in the 70th minute on a free kick that freshman defender Saul Vasquez headed in. Freshman Isaac Pineda collected the assist on the play.
The Dons will now prepare to travel to No. 5 seeded Mt. San Antonio College on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. It will be the third consecutive season that the two teams have met in the second round of regionals. Will Mt. SAC taking both wins, Santa Ana will have a chance to get revenge in this one.
THE DONS ADVANCE!!! ��
— SAC Dons (@SACDons) November 17, 2022
Santa Ana Men's Soccer won in PKs to move on the second round of socal regionals
The Dons will travel to play No. 5 Mt. SAC on Saturday at 6PM.#SACDons pic.twitter.com/vHc76BXXet
