The Golden Lions fell just short of El Farolito SC, losing 2-3 to the first-place team in the Golden Gate Conference Saturday evening at UC Davis’s Dairy Complex.
The Lions started the match well, taking the lead in only the 5th minute as right back Kenzo Morabia capitalized on a sloppy pass from the away side, slotting home the opener. However, El Farolito wasted no time in finding a response, equalizing only two minutes later with a volley from well outside the box.
The match remained deadlocked when, with ten minutes before the half-time interval there was a lengthy delay following a scary head-to-head collision as Davis’s JP Herrera and a Farolito player both competed for a header. While Herrera was thankfully fit to continue, the El Farolito midfielder required immediate medical attention and was ultimately transported to the hospital.
The teams went into the halftime break still level at one goal apiece, but El Farolito soon found the next goal, striking in the 50th minute to take a 2-1 advantage. The deficit was then doubled in the 63rd minute as the visitors converted on a penalty kick.
FC Davis refused to go silently, however, battling their way back into the game with a well-struck effort from Bennett Olsen-Zwick in the 89th minute to give the home side hope of a late equalizer. Davis continued to fight for another late goal, creating several promising chances from free kicks and long throw-ins, but in the end, couldn’t find the back of the net.
The Golden Lions will take on Sonoma Sol FC in their next match on June 3rd at UC Davis Dairy Complex.
By Dylan Ehlers