Boys Soccer: Monrovia Ties Temple City, Loses Title Shot

The boys soccer team knew it would need to earn a victory at Temple City if it wanted any chance at earning at least a share of the Rio Hondo League title.

The Wildcats at times looked sharp and at times looked sloppy Wednesday against the Rams. As a result, they played Temple City to a 3-3 draw.

“We didn’t lose the match but it feels like a loss,” Monrovia coach Michael Williams said. “I feel we are clearly one of the better teams in the league and unfortunately it won’t show after the result of this match.”

Monrovia (12-6-2, 5-1-1 in RHL) defeated Temple City 5-0 when the two sides hooked up last month at Monrovia.

La Cañada, ranked No. 1 in the CIF-Southern Section Division 5 poll, has a perfect league record. The Wildcats visit the Spartans next Wednesday.

Temple City (6-8-2, 2-3-2) stunned Monrovia just eight minutes into the match when Troy Brocato crossed the ball from the right side across the Monrovia goal box and Tim Herrington put a left-footed shot in past freshman goalie Max Medley.

The Wildcats suffered bad luck twice in one sequence in the 16^th minute, as both Mario Gomes and Marcos Naccarati hit the top cross bar.

Monrovia finally got on the board in the 33^rd minute when Naccarati’s free kick deflected off of a wall of Temple City defenders and into the left corner of the goal.

After Monrovia struggled in the first half, Williams moved Gomes and James Alewine further back into the midfield to start the second half and the move paid dividends right away.

In the 47^th minute, Alewine received a pass from Rene Rocha at the edge of the left side of the Temple City goal box. He hit a right-footed shot that hit the left post and into the goal past goalie Andy May.

The Wildcats seemed to be controlling the midfield and in command until the 66^th minute. Andrew Oronia fired a free kick into the goal box. Aaron Baca was able to get a head on it and the ball went directly to Tyler Roach, who headed the ball into the left corner of the goal.

Although Monrovia was stunned, it came back and less than a minute later regained the lead as freshman Danny Hofferley snuck in past the Temple City defense and fired a left-footed shot into the right corner of the goal.

Temple City tied things in the 78^th minute from the rebound of yet another free kick. After Monrovia cleared the ball, Matt Sherman crossed the ball with his left foot to Herrington who headed in his second goal of the match.