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The Lancers were unable to capitalize on their multitude of scoring chances in a 1-0 loss to the College of the Desert Roadrunners at Robinson Stadium on Saturday. Other than the late game controversy involving the Roadrunners’ coach, the game was in PCC’s hands, but they failed to turn their solid play into a positive result.

With a record of 0-4-1, the Lancers have yet to put together a full 90 minutes of continuity and continue to find it difficult to turn a possession advantage into scoring goals.

“It was one of those games,” Head Coach Edgar Manvelyan said after the game. “They’re a very good team and we didn’t take advantage of our chances.”

The first half was dominated by the Lancers outshooting College of the Desert 11 to two, keeping the ball in the Roadrunners’ half of the field. The play of PCC’s stifling defensive back four, kept the game comfortably at 0-0.

An end-line run and a massive shot attempt by freshman Lancer midfielder Zach Larson in the first half were the closest PCC came to scoring a goal the entire game.

The second half was more of the same, except for a mental lapse by the Lancers’ defense, as a throw-in went into the PCC box and was easily tapped in by Roadrunner Fabian Cortez in the 59^th minute.

“We had four guys set up top, we got no clear shots and their goalie did a fantastic job,” said Manvelyan.

The game had become contentious between the two teams, but in the 89^th minute, Lancer midfielder Larson went to retrieve a ball that had rolled out-of-bounds, and was impeded on his way back to the field by Roadrunners Head Coach Pipo Castillo.

“I went for the ball for the throw in, and he got in my way,” said Larson after the game. “He stuck his leg out, nudged me, and then cussed at me in Spanish.”

This episode resulted in both team’s benches clearing to defend their teammate and coach. After the teams had relaxed and the referee had broken up the shoving match, the head referee gave Coach Castillo a red card and an immediate ejection from the stadium.

“He was probably trying to waste time,” Coach Manvelyan said about incident, “but it’s very unsportsmanlike and I appreciate the red card from the referee.”

Even after five extra minutes were added due to play stoppage, and another onslaught of chances for the Lancers, the game ended in a 1-0 loss, with PCC outshooting their opponent 16-7.

“We need to move the ball around faster and create chances,” said Larson, who had the most scoring chances of any Lancer. “It’s about ball movement – that gets defenses off-kilter.”

“We worked hard, we just couldn’t score,” said Manvelyan.

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