Hartnell turns up defensive pressure to gain spot in men's soccer state championship versus Cerritos
MISSION VIEJO - The Hartnell College men's soccer team advanced to the 3C2A Men's Soccer State Championship game with a 2-0 win over Los Angeles City College on Friday night at Saddleback College. The Panthers will play Cerritos College in the state finals on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Hartnell put on an impressive display of defense in the semifinals, stifling the Los Angeles City offense. The Panthers allowed just 11 total shots for LA City for the night with only three shots-on-goal by the Cubs the entire game.
Hartnell opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Edwin Moreno scored on a free kick from 25 yards out. Moreno's shot was a rocket into the upper-right corner for his ninth goal of the season, which caught the Cubs goalkeeper Carlos Rodriguez completely off guard as he never moved on the shot.
The goal from Moreno was one of only a handful of real scoring opportunities in the opening frame as the two teams only totaled three shots apiece for the half.
The game remained 1-0 until the 62nd minute when Hartnell added a goal for a 2-0 advantage. The goal came on another set piece as Kevyn Trejo Aviles delivered a perfect ball on a corner kick in front of the net and Angel Lomeli-Zuniga (pictured) slipped it past the keeper for his eighth goal of the season.
From that point forward, Hartnell settled in on defense and frustrated the Los Angeles City offense. The Cubs didn't get an official shot on goal until the 77th minute when Carlos Ruano put a shot on goal that was easily stopped by Hartnell goalkeeper Andres Avila. The Cubs would get a couple more opportunities in the final minutes, but nothing that could find its way into the net.
For Hartnell, it was their 11th shutout of the season and fourth in a row. Hartnell has now gone 367 minutes since last giving up a goal in a 3-2 win against Cañada College on November 11.
Hartnell improved to 18-3-4 overall on the season with the win and will play Cerritos College in the state championship game on Sunday at 2:00 PM at Saddleback College. Los Angeles City College finishes the 2025 campaign at 15-5-7.
NOTES: Hartnell last appeared in the state finals when they lost to Mt. San Antonio College, 2-1, in 2021. The Panthers won their lone state title in 2013 when they defeated Mt. San Antonio 1-0.
(Brad Hoiseth, CCCSIA)