Canyons Downs Bakersfield 3-1 Under the Lights at New Soccer Facility

COC freshman Joshua Ausherman scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season in the 47th minute to help give Canyons the 3-1 victory.

Canyons Downs Bakersfield 3-1 Under the Lights at New Soccer Facility
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October 19, 2016
The installation of state-of-the-art field turf and LED stadium lights at the new College of the Canyons soccer facility is already paying dividends, as the women's and men's soccer programs combined for nine goals and two conference victories in the pair of inaugural games played on Oct. 18.

After watching the women's team earna  6-0 victory earlier int he day, the men's team took the field to play in the first night game under the facility's new Musco LED stadium lights — the same type of sports-lighting system utilized at venues including the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Petco Park in San Diego.

COC head coach Phil Marcellin and the Cougars (5-9-1, 1-2) picked up a much needed 3-1 conference victory over Bakersfield College on Tuesday, to get back in the win column after a three-game skid.

Freshman Dominic Menolascino's goal in the 16th minute gave Canyons the early 1-0 lead, and was the first goal on the new field for the men's program.

The scoring play occurred after Renegade goalkeeper Frank Arreola made the initial save on Menolascino's penalty kick, but couldn't cover the ball in allowing for a rebound opportunity. 

COC later made it a 2-0 advantage when freshman Joshua Ausherman scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season in the 47th minute.

Bakersfield answered back to make it 2-1 just seven minutes later on a score from Edwin Bernal. However, Canyons was unrelenting in its search for victory on the new field.

In the 79th minute freshman Josue Cartagena put his name in the book with an unassisted scoring play to seal COC's 3-1 victory.

Canyons goalkeeper Cristian Arriaga (5-8-1) turned in a strong performance with eight saves in the contest.

Bakersfield had the slight edge with 20 shots compared to just 14 for the Cougars, but both teams registered nine shots on goal.

"I'm overwhelmed with excitement and gratitude," said Marcellin about the new field and the opportunity for both of the college's soccer programs to be able to play more night games. "This is an amazing facility.

"For the players, I think the most exciting thing for them is the fact that this is the first time in their lives they've seen a soccer specific facility, of this quality, in their community… and that's a historical moment."

— Story and photos by Jesse Munoz/COC Sports Information Office