Taft Tops Canyons, Rallies to Draw Chaffey in Two-Game Set
| 1H | 2H | T | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TAF | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| CAN | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1H | 2H | T | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHA | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| TAF | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Taft College completed a two-game set with a win and a draw on consecutive days, defeating College of the Canyons 2-1 on Sept. 1 before Brayan Molina delivered a 90th-minute equalizer in a 2-2 draw with Chaffey on Sept. 2. The Cougars scored twice in the first half of the opener at Santa Clarita, then erased two separate second-half deficits against Chaffey in Taft.
Ian Menjivar put Taft ahead against Canyons at 19:13 after the Cougars began creating pressure early. Ian Soto had forced a save with Taft’s first recorded shot on goal at 3:56, then provided the assist when Christopher Guerrero doubled the lead at 25:06. Christopher Guerrero’s goal stood as the winner as the Cougars carried a 2-0 advantage into halftime.
Canyons cut the deficit to one when Anthony Padilla scored at 57:49, but Taft continued to threaten while protecting the lead. Santiago Castaneda forced a save less than two minutes after the Canyons goal, Brayden Rivera put another attempt on target at 74:17, and Ian Menjivar required a late save at 87:36. The Cougars finished with advantages of 17-3 in shots, 9-1 in shots on goal and 5-1 in corner kicks. Aslan Chong played all 90 minutes in goal and earned the win.
The second match remained scoreless through halftime before Chaffey’s Mateo Soria opened the scoring in the 53rd minute. Taft answered in the 71st when Gabriel Skinner converted an assist from Ian Menjivar, tying the match at 1-1. Chaffey regained the lead only two minutes later on a goal by Vinicius Da Lima, forcing the Cougars to chase another equalizer.
That response came in the final minute. Jacob Alcala set up Brayan Molina, who scored at 90:00 to pull Taft level for the second time and secure the 2-2 draw. Chaffey goalkeeper Fernando Monteon made four saves, but the Cougars’ two second-half finishes ensured Taft closed the back-to-back matches unbeaten with a victory and a draw.
The Cougars will be back on the road against Allan Hancock College on Friday, September 4 at 4:00 pm.
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