Palomares Shines and Carlos’ Late Goal Lifts Warriors Past Mounties

TORRANCE, Calif. --- El Camino College got a stellar goalkeeping performance from Donovan Palomares and a late goal from Mario Carlos in a 1-0 South Coast Conference win over Mount San Antonio on Tuesday afternoon at the ECC Soccer Field.

Palomares was outstanding in net for the Warriors (14-2-0, 6-1-0) as he made nine saves to keep the Mounties (12-5-0, 4-3-0) off the scoreboard and record his sixth shutout of the year and earn the Warriors their seventh straight win.

The win was ECC's first over the Mounties in the regular season since October 4, 2013 when the Warriors downed the Mounties 4-2 at the old Murdock Stadium, a game that featured seven yellow cards and a red card.

Tuesday's game featured a similarity in the amount of cautions as five were issued in the match. There were also 30 combined fouls with the Mounties edging the Warriors in that department, 16-14.

But despite the physicality, the match featured some outstanding scoring chances on both sides. Palomares' highlight save came in the first half as he stuffed a point-blank header labeled for the far post. The Warriors' keeper left his feet and not only got his right palm on the ball while his body was perpendicular to the ground, but was able to control the rebound and prevent any second chance on the play.

After much back-and-forth action, the Warriors finally broke the scoreless draw in the 82^nd minute as Joshua Aguilera ran along the far side and centered a ball for Gustavo Munoz, who fired a one-timer toward the far post.

Mounties' goalkeeper Jacob Cardenas made the diving stop but Carlos pounced on the rebound on the near side and fired a low left-footed shot to the far post and in for the lone goal of the match.

It was Carlos' 13^th goal of the year and fifth game-winning goal of the season.

The Warriors will look to earn their seventh consecutive win on Friday when they head to Rio Hondo for a 4 p.m. kickoff.