Boys soccer: Falcons improve to 7-1 in CCAA with win over Legacy

Frustrated with a lack of goals to show for their effort, the Falcons were dealt a further blow when the Legacy snatched the lead late into the first half with a perfectly placed free-kick that nestled into the top corner – the only way they could have hurt the Millennium defense.

Canas revealed that the half-time team talk was tense with the team eager to get back out onto the field to try and mount a comeback. The Falcons were also fueled by a “passionate and inspirational speech” from freshman Alex Castro before heading back out.

All of the above resulted in an aggressive start to the second half and with the Falcons finally able to reap the benefits of their labor with an equalizer from freshman winger Leo Kirsto after a cross from junior defender Gustavo Almazan.

All tied up, the Falcons could taste blood and took a deserved lead just a few minutes later when sophomore central midfielder Landon Vatran took off down the right flank and found the top corner of the Legacy’s goal from the tightest of angles and from way out to make it 2-1.

The Falcons finally had the advantage but the work did not stop there. Canas reported that despite taking the lead, the cohesiveness on defense and teamwork on offense continued – leading to the third goal by junior Raul Olmos, assisted by sophomore Gahel Moreno.

Canas was pleased with the team’s performance and gave props to the diligence with which the Falcons’ back line played and controlled the game.

The head coach gave a shout out to junior central defense pairing of Ryan Alger and Jose Alcaraz for being “key re-setters by being first to the ball and switching the field in all directions,” and to first time goalkeeper, sophomore Steven Mendoza, for “never getting discouraged and continuing to play smart” and keeping a clean sheet in the second half.