The Jordan Panthers are a team that has been looking to make a name for themselves all season. That shouldn’t be a problem anymore, after a thrilling 2-1 home victory yesterday that ended – mercifully and bizarrely – in the third overtime period and will catapult the Panthers into the CIF Quarterfinals.
Both teams scored in the first half of regulation and missed golden opportunities to end the game, before Edgar Palacios sailed a perfect ball to Panther sophomore Rafael Haros as he streaked down the middle of the field, meeting the ball in mid-air and sneaking it past the Woodbridge keeper for the victory.
Haros turned and ran towards his teammates, who left the bench and mobbed him on the opposite sideline near midfield. It was Haros’ second consecutive game-winner after scoring to defeat JSerra just days earlier.
“I guess that’s why they brought me up,” said Haros, who was called up from the Junior Varsity team for the CIF playoffs. Seeing the cross coming his way and knowing it was an opportunity to score, was simply “Beautiful,” he said.
“We practice that every day and it finally paid off,” said Jordan head coach Juan Rodriguez. He spoke highly of Haros’ goal, but was equally proud of Palacios’ setup pass. “It was a good finish. We put the right person in the flank.”
Haros savored the moment, and pleased the frenzied Panther crowd by running to them and performing a Lambeau Leap – the Jordan Jump? – over the chain-link fence. The entire team then lined up and waved to the crowd of around 250 to thank them for nearly two and-a-half hours of cheers–it was no wonder they showed up, either, given that it was Jordan’s first home playoff game in over a quarter-century.
Panther midfielder Juan Gonzalez headed in a cross midway through the first half to put Jordan up 1-0, but the goal was quickly equalized by Woodbridge’s Brendan Crofts. The teams went to the half in a 1-1 tie, and would remain that way until the third OT.
Jordan controlled the ball for much of the first half and final two overtimes, but Woodbridge had several opportunities squandered thanks to Panther keeper Omar Castillo’s reflexes. Castillo notched six crucial saves – three of which occurred in the three overtimes.
And now that we’re on the topic, yes, the game was played to three overtimes – despite the fact that CIF rules stipulate penalty kicks after two extra periods. In fact, Woodbridge’s previous game was won 7-6 on penalty kicks, and Millikan prevailed in PK’s yesterday even as Jordan and Woodbridge played their third OT.
No doubt the grueling match took its toll on both teams, as Woodbridge clearly slowed down in the final periods, and several Panthers stretched heavily between regulation and the first overtime.
“A couple players started cramping,” said coach Rodriguez, “But we’ve been practicing for hours in case of games like this.”
In any case, the Panthers will advance to the CIF quarterfinals on Friday after finishing third in the Moore League regular season standings–a coin flip will decide whether they’re home again, or on the road against St. Francis. They’ll be looking to surprise many by advancing to the semis – any game involving the Jordan Panthers is nothing if not surprising.