Master’s Opens Soccer Playoffs With 4-3 Win

The Master’s College advanced to the second round of the NAIA District 3 soccer playoffs Wednesday with a 4-3, sudden-death victory over visiting Southern California College.

Sophomore Ezequiel Bongarra scored the winning goal 12 minutes into the first sudden-death overtime period, ending the match after 2 hours 12 minutes.

Southern California College (8-11-1, 4-5-1 in district play) scored first when Carlos Miramontes beat goalie Brian Crosson at the 12-minute mark.

But Master’s came back to take a 3-1 halftime lead on goals by Bongarra, Momir Horvatek and Justin Roath.

Bongarra scored at the 20-minute mark, followed by Horvatek, who converted an assist from Larry Myles at 35 minutes. Roath scored five minutes after that.

Southern California College came out strongly in the second half, getting goals from Greg Olson and Miramontes to forge a 3-3 tie. Olson scored at 63 minutes, and Miramontes added the tying goal at the 70-minute mark.

Neither team scored in the two regulation 15-minute overtime periods, setting the stage for Bongarra’s decisive goal, which came on an assist by Mark Wheeler.

“(Wheeler) really carried the game in overtime,” Master’s Coach Jim Rickard said. Wheeler, who normally plays fullback, moved to forward in overtime.

The Master’s (10-9-1, 7-3 in district play) will continue playoff action against host Fresno Pacific on Saturday.

But the Mustangs will make that trip without Mariano Callebreta, a senior midfielder who received a red card in the second regulation overtime, making him ineligible for the Mustangs’ next match.