Carlos Plays the Hero as Late Goals Lift Warriors Past Norco

TORRANCE, Calif. --- Sophomore Mario Carlos played the hero Tuesday evening as his two goals propelled El Camino College to a 2-1 comeback victory over visiting Norco at the ECC Soccer Field.

Carlos scored his two goals less than two minutes apart to turn a one-goal deficit into a victory for the Warriors (2-1-0). As a team, the Warriors unloaded 29 total shots including 12 on goal with 10 of them being turned away by Norco (1-2-1) keeper Martin Fiala.

Despite dominating ball possession and offensive chances, the Warriors found themselves trailing in the 39th minute when Efren Nunez-Dominguez lined a shot from just outside the 18-yard box to the near post to beat Warriors keeper Donovan Palomares and give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead.

It was the second and last shot on goal for the Mustangs for the rest of the match.

But the goal held for 44 minutes despite the offensive barrage from the Warriors. In the 84th minute, Haruki Utsumi lobbed a pass into the middle of the box and Alek Palomares leapt to put a head on the ball. In midair, he took a shoulder to the back from a Norco defender and a penalty shot was called in favor of the Warriors.

Carlos took the penalty and waited out Fiala with a hesitation move. The Mustangs keeper bit and went to his right and Carlos tucked in the shot easily to the right to tie the match.

In the 86th minute, Carlos struck again as he beat Fiala with a left-footed shot from just outside the six-yard box after some brilliant passes from Ty Kerns and Emiliano Amaro to put the Warriors ahead for good.

The Warriors will return to action on Friday afternoon with a road contest against Moorpark at 4 p.m.