MiraCosta Edges Orange Coast in Final Minutes

Jack Vazquez runs to the ball during a game.

In a closely contested match, the MiraCosta College men's soccer team secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Orange Coast College on Friday, September 20, 2024, thanks to a stoppage-time goal by forward Danny Barbosa.

The game was a hard-fought battle from start to finish, with both teams struggling to break down each other's defenses. MiraCosta goalkeeper Bryan Casteneda stood tall, making three crucial saves to maintain a clean sheet. On the other side, Orange Coast's Cesar Pedroza-Acosta was equally formidable, recording seven saves to keep the game scoreless for much of the afternoon.

As the match headed toward full time, it appeared destined for a draw. However, in the 90th minute, MiraCosta found the breakthrough when Alexander Oregon delivered a perfect assist to Barbosa, who calmly slotted home the decisive goal, sending the home crowd into celebration.

Defender Gavyn Golub and midfielder Anthony Rodriguez both picked up yellow cards in the second half, but MiraCosta's defense held firm. Orange Coast failed to register a single shot on goal, and despite their resilience, they couldn't find the equalizer.

The win improves MiraCosta's record as they continue their impressive run this season. The Spartans will look to build on this momentum as they face San Diego City on Tuesday in the conference opener.