Signs Not So Good for Zodiac
One year after a thrilling overtime season-opening victory, the Zodiac played a forgettable A-League soccer season opener Wednesday at UC Irvine.
Two red cards late in the first half forced the Zodiac to play short-handed and a breakdown on defense led to the only goal in the Seattle Sounders’ 1-0 victory in front of an announced crowd of 587.
Last year, the Zodiac beat the El Paso Patriots, 1-0, on an overtime goal by Jose Vasquez, a former Santa Ana High and Rancho Santiago College standout. Goalie Mike Gartlan, a former UC Irvine standout, posted the shutout.
Now, Vasquez is gone, and only five players are back from last season’s squad. Gartlan is now the Zodiac’s coach, but his new viewpoint didn’t make Wednesday’s result any easier to take.
Seattle’s Patrick Beech, a member of the Jamaican national team, scored in the 37th minute off an assist from Fabian Davis, another Jamaican national team member. Beech fired his a shot from the right side of the penalty area and beat Zodiac goalie Mike Littman to the lower left corner of the net.
“[Beech] can unsettle any team,” Gartlan said.
Gartlan was more than unsettled with referee Bryan Elliott, who issued two red cards to the Zodiac in a one-minute span.
In the 42nd minute, Zodiac forward Steve Patterson, formerly of Foothill High, and Sounders defender Jason Annicchero got tangled up when they challenged for a ball in the air. When they hit the ground, the pair jostled, but Patterson took a swing at Annicchero and was ejected.
One minute later, midfielder P.J. Polowski, formerly of UC Irvine and Fountain Valley High, received the Zodiac’s second red card after a tackle from behind on Seattle’s Brandon Prideaux, setting off Gartlan and his players.
“That was the exact same tackle that he gave [Polowski] a yellow card on five minutes into the game,” Gartlan said. “But the referee was not at fault for giving the goal away.
“When we make a defensive mistake and give up a goal, then get two red cards, that will kill you.”
Gartlan substituted Gustavo Leal, the team’s leading scorer last season, for former Cal State Fullerton standout Eddie Soto in the final 17 minutes to try to produce some offense.
“Gustavo’s a big part of this team,” Gartlan said. “We have three good forwards, so we’ll see how we match up with other teams, how guys are practicing . . .
“I can’t be happy with the result, but I am happy with the effort, especially from the nine guys on the field for the second half. That’s what will be good about this team is that they will keep fighting.”
