Lobos Win Shootout Thriller

The Los Amigos boys’ soccer team dominated Paso Robles during regulation and overtime Wednesday, so it was only fitting the Lobos owned the shootout too.

After getting stymied by bad luck and bad bounces throughout the first 100 minutes, Los Amigos scored on three of four attempts in the shootout and the Bearcats were stopped on three of their four, resulting in a 1-0 victory for the Lobos in the Southern Section Division V second-round game.

“It was a little nerve-wracking,” said Los Amigos coach Chris Sandro, who took over for Johnny Becerra in late January after Becerra was asked to step down due to stress-related issues. “We’ve had games like this before. Nothing goes in but we pull them out.”

Los Amigos junior forward Frankie Valdez went first in the best-of-five-rounds shootout and skidded his shot passed Paso Robles goalkeeper Daniel Fuerte.

Angel Guevara then took his turn for the Bearcats and hit the left post as Los Amigos goalkeeper Christian Morales was diving right.

Los Amigos junior midfielder Luis Lopez then copied Valdez by beating Fuerte to his left. After Angel Garcia scored Paso Robles’ only goal of the shootout, sophomore forward Chris Echeverria scored for the Lobos to give them a 3-1 advantage.

Moralez then stopped Daniel Jaimes, leaving junior forward Brian Valdez in position to win the game. However, his shot was stopped by Fuerte, keeping the shootout alive.

That only last until the next shooter, Brian Mercado of Paso Robles, who hit the crossbar, giving the Lobos the victory.

It was only fitting the game ended that way, as Los Amigos had four balls go off the crossbar in the second half alone.

“We hit enough poles to drive me crazy,” Sandro said. 

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