Hope International University

IRVINE, Calif. – Stanton's Álvaro Florîn broke a 3-3 tie, scoring the game-winning goal with one minute remaining to hand the Hope International men's soccer team a 4-3 defeat on Tuesday at the OC Great Park. 

Florîn completed the hat trick as the Elks overcame a two-goal deficit in dropping the Royals to 3-1-2 overall. The Elks remained unbeaten in improving to 8-0-1.

Stanton trailed 3-1 in the second half but scored three times over the final 23 minutes.

The Elks took a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute on Florîn's first goal of the game. Stanton controlled possession for the majority of the first half and outshot the Royals 13-2 heading into intermission.

HIU inserted some of its key starters into the lineup to begin the second half, and the adjustments made an immediate difference. The Royals produced two shots and three corner kicks within the opening minutes.

The Royals broke through at the 51:49 mark on Erick Cabrera's first goal of the season, with the assist credited to Gera Montellano.

HIU kept the pressure up and netted the go-ahead goal on a mad scramble in the six-yard box. Cabrera poked the ball in for his second goal in the 60th minute.

The home team continued to pepper Stanton with shots, forcing goalkeeper Giovanny Jacon into a pair of saves. 

The aggression paid off as HIU took a 3-1 lead in the 62nd minute. Matthias Alcaraz fired a shot that deflected off Jacon. Roberto Estrada collected the rebound and deposited his shot into the net for his first goal of the season.

But the Elks did not succumb. After going the first 21 minutes without taking a shot in the second half, Stanton turned to Florîn for offense. André Tavares tapped a back pass to Florîn, who buried his shot inside the post for his second goal of the contest.

Francesco De Marco tied the score at 3-3 with a goal at the 71:59 mark.

DeMarco and Florîn connected for the game-winner with exactly one minute left on the clock. Florîn delivered a cross into the box and DeMarco beat HIU goalie Wyatt Schaap to the far post for the 4-3 lead. 

Stanton outshot HIU 19-13 for the game. Four yellow cards were issued in the second half, and Stanton's Daniel Apata Ayensa and HIU's Allan Gonzalez received red cards for a postgame altercation.

Tyler Beehler played the first half in net for HIU and made six saves. Jacon stopped four shots for the Elks before being lifted for Alejandro Navarro.

The Royals turn their attention back to GSAC action as they host The Master's on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. inside the OC Great Park Stadium.