SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — The Soka University men's soccer team turned a one-goal deficit into a lead with two goals in a 67-second span early in the second half, but The Master's answered with a pair of Trent Rickard goals to pull away 3-2 over Soka.
The Master's opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when Andrew Sorto converted an assist from Rickard. Soka came out of the break with an answer, as
Diego Barba leveled the match in the 52nd minute and
Rudy Garcia put the Lions in front just 67 seconds later, in the 53rd minute, finishing a feed from
Hope Suka.
The lead lasted barely a minute. Rickard equalized in the 54th minute off an assist from goalkeeper Franco Barba, then netted the game-winner in the 70th minute with help from Michael Masimango and Silas Chavez.
Soka was clinical with limited chances, scoring twice on just four shots on goal, and the Lions kept pressing late with
Martin Mondala and
Robbie Cotton both forcing saves out of Barba in the final two minutes. Goalkeeper
Jacob Warren made 6 saves as The Master's generated 20 shots and nine corner kicks.
Soka moved to 4-5-2 overall and 3-4-2 in GSAC play.
