Posted Sep 14, 2012, 11:25 pm
An early goal from Declan Fulton was not enough to win the game as Pima Community College ended up with a 1-1 tie with Phoenix College after 110 minutes of play on Thursday afternoon.
Pima won possession early, and Gabe Gauna slipped the ball to Declan Fulton for a fifth-minute left-footed chip past Phoenix's Dallas Hunter. After that, the game became a back-and-forth with neither dominating possession, although Pima ended with an advantage on shots on goal with 11 to Phoenix's 5.
Phoenix had an excellent chance toward the end of the first half when Ben Eyde tipped a 42nd minute shot over the crossbar. It wasn't until late in the second half when Phoenix was finally able to score when Tony Garcia slipped it past Ben Eyde in the 82nd minute.
Regulation time ended with the 1-1 draw. Pima pressured in the opening moments of the first overtime period, but was unable to score.
Pima next plays on Aztec field on Saturday at 2 PM against Yavapai College.
Getting better
Despite the tie, Pima's coaching staff considers the result an improvement in a week that saw a scoreless draw against Paradise Valley.
"Today we were better. We were 100 percent better," said assistant coach Javier Holguin. "We created enough chances to win the game."
"One one is not a fair result. We got enough to get something out of that," he added.
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Although Tyler Terrell and Gabe Gauna were crucial to several offensive efforts, the team seemed to count on Declan Fulton for that final strike at the goal. This was by design, Holguin said.
"He is the type of player where he is slipping the final ball; he is looking to shoot; he is looking to do good things," Holguin said. "He's not a possession type player. That's not what we want from him."
Holguin was generally happy with the team's performance, telling them to "keep doing what you're doing" during his half time talk.
"I told them to score another goal," he said. "It just wasn't our day. The ball didn't bounce our way."
Keeper vs. keeper
Salpointe graduate Ben Eyde let the first ball by him since Pima's loss to Arizona Western last month. As for the man standing opposite him on Thursday, Dallas Hunter, that was the first goal let by him this season.
Yahya Kane
Striker Yahya Kane, who spent all of last season recovering from injury, will be back to "base fitness" and ready to play by the end of next week, according to team staff.
Sin bin
Coach Dave Cosgrove was not on the sidelines Thursday after being ejected from Sunday's match for using a water bottle to accentuate his displeasure with the refereeing.
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