Lopez Powers Hawks Past Cabrillo

3C2A Playoff Headquarters

EVC Men's Soccer (15-3-3) is now one match away from a return to the State Finals following a 3-1 victory over No. 11-seeded Cabrillo (11-6-5) on Tuesday evening.

Forward Josue Lopez paced the No. 3-seeded Hawks with the first two goals to advance to play at No. 2-seeded Hartnell (16-3-4) on Saturday. Game time is 1:30 p.m.

Hartnell (16-3-4) advanced to the fourth round following a 1-0 win over No. 7-seeded West Valley earlier in the day. The winner heads to the State Finals at Saddleback College.

Lopez got the Hawks on the scoreboard in the 40th minute, taking a cross from Antony Villa to make it 1-0. In the second half, EVC launched an offensive counterattack, which led to Lopez taking on goal keeeper Bryan Bravo Martinez and shooting past a diving keeper to make it 2-0 in the 56th minute.

Following a Yoan Ponio score off a cross in the 69th minute, Roberto Martinez put the contest out of reach in the 79th minute with a goal in front of the net to make it 3-1.

Previous State Finals for EVC were in 2015 and 2023.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for EVC staff, students, seniors, and children under 12.

The State Final Four for both men and women is December 5 and 7 at Saddleback College.