Prep boys soccer: Rancho Bernardo High stuns Poway in final minutes
By Michael Bower
The Rancho Bernardo High boys soccer team scrambled as Poway unleashed a barrage of shots for 79 minutes on the Broncos net. Freshman goalkeeper Justin Tesar was forced to put on a clinic in the cage just to keep the game scoreless.
The Broncos had managed a mere three shots in the match to the Titans’ 27 with only a minute plus extra time to go. But the fourth shot Rancho Bernardo took in the 80th minute proved to be the only one that mattered.
Sophomore midfielder Eric Dixon went through a Poway defender and then beat the oncoming goalkeeper before firing to an open net, as the Broncos stunned rival Poway 1-0 Thursday night in a Palomar League match at Rancho Bernardo High.
“The defender happened to heel the ball right into me,” Dixon explained of the goal-scoring play. “It was God’s will that it happened. I saw the goalie was out, and I kicked it right in. It happened really slowly. I thought the moment was never going to end.”
When it was all said and done, the Titans had outshot the Broncos 29-4 in the match only to leave with a stunning loss to their cross-town rival. Meanwhile, the Broncos celebrated their first win over Poway since January of 2010. The victory also snapped a five-game losing streak for the defending CIF San Diego Section Division I champions.
“It was a great, great win for us,” Broncos coach Kurt Trecker said. “We are down a bit this year, but for my guys to come in and fight like that was great. Poway was shooting hot and heavy and my guys were able to weather the storm.”
Tesar weathered most of it, as he was peppered with shots throughout the entire match. He finished with 14 saves and put his body on the line several times just one week after nearly breaking his nose in a game.
“You just have to go in hard with your body and put it on the line, and it will pay off as you seen today,” he said. “To tell you the truth, I like to come out and put my body on the line and play a physical game.”
There was plenty of physicality in this one, as the two teams combined for seven yellow cards in the contest (Broncos five, Poway two).
“I thought I was going to get clocked every time, and get wrecked out there,” Dixon said. “It is never dull playing Poway. I never had so much fun this season.”
The Titans will look back at this one and squirm at all the missed opportunities. There were several headers that went just wide of the post or over the crossbar. Poway had a golden opportunity just before halftime, but Tony Kirouac’s shot from point-blank range was right at Tesar.
“I don’t know if their goalie had a bullseye on his shirt or what, but we just could not score,” Morris said.
The loss ended the Titans’ seven-game winning streak, but they are still in first place in the Palomar League. It was the first league victory of the season for the Broncos.
Related posts:
- Prep girls soccer: Poway High, Rancho Bernardo ready for first battle of year
- Prep boys basketball: Rancho Bernardo High, Poway fired up for showdown
- Prep boys soccer: Rancho Bernardo High plays nationally-ranked San Pasqual tough in loss
- Prep girls volleyball: Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Del Norte High all advance to quarterfinals
- From the Bench: Final minutes of Poway High boys soccer win were anxious ones
Short URL: http://www.pomeradonews.com/?p=20983
Posted by Michael Bower
on Jan 26 2012. Filed under High School, Sports.
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