Velazquez With a Hat Trick in 4-3 Win at OCC

Freshman midfielder Isaac Velazquez scored three goals on Tuesday night, including two in the final 12 minutes, to help the Knights earn their first win of the season, 4-3, at Orange Coast. Brett Woodworth scored the other goal, his fifth of the year. 

Velazquez put the Knights on the board first with an unassisted goal in the 22nd minute to give City a 1-0 lead that lasted the rest of the first half. Orange Coast then tied it three minutes into the second half on a goal from Daichi Someya. 

Woodworth put the Knights ahead once again with a goal in the 58th minute, but the lead didn't last long as Orange Coast equalized for a second time on a goal from Grayson Marquez.

With the game in the balance, Velazquez struck twice in less than two minutes with goals in the 79th and 80th minutes to give City a 4-2 advantage. Velazquez now has seven goals, which is tied for fourth most in the state.

The Orange Coast Pirates did not go away silently as the they put the pressure on and got back within one after another goal by Marquez. Orange Coast got off a couple more shots, including one on frame, but Knights' goalkeeper Sebastian Guillen stopped it to preserve the win. 

Guillen ended up with a total of eight saves on the night as the Knights improved to 1-6-1. 

City has one more non-conference match at home on Friday vs. Victor Valley at 1 p.m. The Knights, who have only played one home game so far, will then start the PCAC season at home against Palomar at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26.