Lancaster news release – www.lancasterattlers.com  

Tuesday, July 14

LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA – The Super-20 League team of the Lancaster Rattlers concluded their season Sunday in Lancaster, California. Facing the Bakersfield Brigade, who also share the Southwest Division of United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League team with the Rattlers, Bakersfield’s U-20s scored twice in the first half while completely controlling the game. The Brigade held the Rattlers to only two scoring threats in the first 45 minutes of play.

Normal July weather for the high desert had temperatures hitting 102. The game began with most of the attack coming from the Bakersfield team but the Rattlers defended well to keep the Brigade off the score board until the 34th minute of play.

Bakersfield’s Angel Perez carried the ball to the right side of the Rattlers keeper Adam Acosta and as the Rattler defender began to pressure Perez, he quickly looped a shot over the defender, just out of the reach of Acosta to collect the first goal of the game.

In the 42nd minute of the half the Brigades’ Jacob Hustedt picked up the ball at the 50-yard line and began to carry it down field. Passing several Rattlers defenders, he entered the penalty area and quickly snapped a shot at the far post, giving the Brigade a two goal lead in the first half.

The second half was a little more even as the Rattlers began to fight back and show signs of life. Cristian Guttierrez put the Rattlers on the board in the 52nd minute but down 2-1, the Rattlers still had to continue battling back.

In the 66th minute, the Rattlers’ David Elizalde received a long pass from Amadeo Garay just outside the area. Elizalde quickly loosed a rocket of a shot past Bakersfield’s Giovanni Garcia to knot the score up at 2-2.

The Brigade played a controlled passing game and maintained composure throughout the game. That showed as Juan Zabal took the ball in the area and slipped a shot by two Rattles defenders and under the diving Acosta to capture a 3-2 lead.

Lancaster was not giving up though and continued to attack until they tilted the advantage their way. As the Rattlers controlled the attack, Bakersfield began to lose a bit of their aforementioned composure.

In the 82nd minute Guttierrez got control of a ball 30-yards out and started to head into the offensive third of the pitch. A Brigade defender attempted to stand Guttierrez up, but he quickly darted around him. A second defender attempted to stop Guttierrez nearing 30-yards from goal but he quickly fired a rangy blast under the legs of the approaching defender and right past the goalkeeper to knot the score up at 3-3.

The match ended in a 3-3 draw and the Rattlers Super-20 League season ended with a record of 2-7-1.