March 28, 2024

PCM boys fall to Albia, end long losing streak against Pella Christian

PRAIRIE CITY — The PCM boys’ soccer team is still learning how to win. And they suffered another hard lesson on May 7 during a non-conference match with Albia.

The Mustangs lost a two-goal lead in the final five minutes of regulation, and then the Blue Demons finished off their comeback with a goal in overtime to win 5-4. It was the fifth overtime loss this season for the Mustangs.

“We have to learn to finish games and take care of the little things along the way,” PCM coach Darrin Telfer said. “They didn’t let up. They kept coming after us with their speed, and we got a little passive. I think our guys thought they had the game won.”

The Mustangs led 3-2 at halftime and held a 4-2 advantage after 75 minutes. In the final five minutes, Albia scored twice to force overtime. And then Devin Robinson ended PCM’s home opener with a penalty kick goal in the 86th minute.

Robinson scored with four minutes to play to even the score at 4-all, too.

“We make a lot of assumptions in the midfield and that starts a lot of our defensive miscues,” Telfer said. “A lot of it right now is confidence. We just have to be confident that we can win games.”

PCM sophomore Noah Hirayama scored twice for the Mustangs. His first goal came directly off a corner kick by senior Rory Van Gorp in the 18th minute.

Albia answered with a goal of its own five minutes later. Trevor Cloyed tied the match when he scored an open net goal.

PCM (4-9) goalie Blake Read came out of his box to defend the ball, but Cloyed got it past him for the equalizer.

The Blue Demons (10-7) took a brief lead with a goal less than three minutes later. But senior Misha Seebeck sent a 25-foot shot to the back of the net to tie the score for PCM.

It was Seebeck’s team-high sixth goal of the season.

Seebeck tied the score in the 29th minute, and PCM got back in front late in the first half.

Hirayama scored again, this time taking advantage of Albia’s goalkeeper being caught off the field next to the goal.

The score remained at 3-2 until the 58th minute. That’s when Seebeck was fouled in the box.

Sophomore Collin Peterson converted the penalty kick to give the home team a two-goal advantage. It was Peterson’s first goal of the season.

Albia, which snapped its three-game losing streak, tied the score in the final five minutes when Emilio Palomares trimmed the lead to one in the 75th minute and Robinson tied it a minute later.

Palomares now has a team-high 12 goals on the season. Robinson scored his seventh and eighth goals Monday.

PCM 5, Pella Christian 3

PRAIRIE CITY — Seebeck recorded a hat trick, and PCM rallied from a 1-0 deficit to snap a long losing streak over Pella Christian at home on May 11.

The Eagles led 1-0 at halftime, but PCM took over the match with four consecutive goals and eventually won 5-3.

The victory ended a five-match losing streak to the Eagles.

PCM defeated Pella Christian for the first time since winning 2-0 back in 2012-13. The Mustangs lost to the Eagles in double overtime in this year’s season opener.

Seebeck’s header off a corner kick by junior Carson Clark tied the match at 1-all.The next two goals came off a penalty kick from senior Drew Johnson and a goal from senior Chase Sanders.

Johnson now has five goals on the season, and Sanders put in his second.

Seebeck made it 4-1 with another goal. His third goal of the match and 10th goal of the season squashed a Pella Christian rally and finished off the Eagles.

Before Seebeck’s final goal, Pella Christian (3-11) closed the gap to 4-3.

The Mustangs hosted West Central Valley on May 14 and Des Moines Christian on May 15. They play North Polk at 7:15 p.m. on May 18 in Alleman.