Nguyen Buries Game-Winner in Double Overtime as Warriors Advance

TORRANCE, Calif. --- Freshman Carson Nguyen scored the game-winning goal with just minutes left in double overtime as No. 3 El Camino College edged No. 14 Cuyamaca 2-1 Saturday night in the first round of the California Community College Men's Soccer Southern California Regional Playoffs at Murdock Stadium.

Nguyen's right-footed blast from 20 yards out was a low laser that diced through both Warriors and Coyotes players alike and tucked itself away in the net to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead in the 117th minute.

It was only his second goal of the year but easily the biggest of his young career as it broke a 1-1 tie that stood for nearly 100 minutes of playing time.

The Coyotes (12-6-3) struck first in the 11th minute as Jose Perez tucked in a low cross from Dylan Lizarazo that knifed through the Warriors defense and found Perez's foot for an easy tap past Warriors keeper Luis Garibay. It was only one of two shots on goal the Coyotes would record all night, but it was enough for a 1-0 lead.

The Warriors responded in the 24th minute as Malcolm Holtzmann-Cisse capitalized on a botched header pass by a Coyotes defender back to his keeper, instead landing in front of Holtzmann-Cisse, who let the ball take a bounce and then flicked it over the keeper and into the net to tie things up.

After that goal, the offenses got stuck in the mud as neither team could hit pay dirt, but it was not for lack of trying as the teams combined for 33 shots on the night. The Warriors peppered the net with five shots on target in the second half and first overtime before their lone shot on goal in the second overtime found itself in the back of the net for the game-winner.

The Warriors advance to the second round of the playoffs and will face Bakersfield on in the next round at Murdock Stadium. The No. 11 Renegades advanced past No. 6 Long Beach City on penalty kicks.