IRVINE, Calif. – The Hope International men's soccer team overcame a 2-0 halftime deficit, storming back with a pair of second half goals to preserve a 2-2 draw against Stanton on Tuesday at the OC Great Park.
The Royals are now 0-1-1 on the season, while the Elks are 0-0-2.
Stanton outshot HIU 14-4, including 8-0 in the first half. But the Royals made the most of their opportunities in the second frame thanks to an uptick in defensive pressure. More impressively, HIU engineered the comeback despite playing a man down for the last 52-plus minutes due to a red card served against Rafa Gonzalez.
HIU got the second half goals from Roberto Estrada and Vincent Lopez. It was the first career goal for Estrada and the fifth for Lopez.
HIU goalkeeper Wyatt Schaap made six saves to earn the victory.
Stanton built its 2-0 lead with goals from Maximilian Hartbaum and Lorenzo Jacon in the 31st and 45 minutes, respectively. Jacon's goal came with nine seconds left as he snuck behind the defense off a through ball from Francesco Pio De Mar.
The Royals cut the lead in half in the 62nd minute.
Julian Benitez served a ball into the box, with the pass caroming off a Stanton defender and straight to Roberto Estrada, who one-timed a perfectly placed left-footed boot into the lower left corner.
Pressuring Stanton in its own defensive third, Vincent Lopez stripped an Elk defender near the top of the box and beat goalkeeper Martim Martins to his left for the game-tying goal at the 81:36 mark.Â
It was a hotly contested game for both teams, which combined for 39 fouls, 23 by the Elks.
HIU returns to action on Saturday at Vanguard for a 1:30 p.m. scrimmage. The next countable game for the Royals is Wednesday, September 3 against Nobel. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at the OC Great Park.
