Littman Helps Zodiac Beat Long Island

Goalkeeper Mike Littman proved he still has what it takes to be in the net, keying the Zodiac’s 1-0 victory over the Long Island Rough Riders in A-League soccer Saturday night at UC Irvine.

Littman, 30, played a spectacular game in front of 752 fans. He recorded 13 saves, holding off an aggressive offensive attack from Long Island, which was coming off a 3-0 loss to San Diego on Friday night.

“That’s my job, I’m here to save it,” said Littman, who played for the Salsa. “[Long Island] played last night, so we figured they’d be tired. But they weren’t. I was just happy to come up big tonight.”

Despite playing without midfielder Daniel Leon, who was ejected with 18 minutes left in the first half, the Rough Riders (0-2) hammered Wittman with 21 shots, forcing the goalkeeper to leave his feet on several saves.

The Zodiac (1-1), playing without starting forwards P.J. Polowski and Steve Patterson, who were ejected in the team’s 1-0 loss to Seattle last week, struggled to get the offense going as the short-handed Rough Riders collapsed to protect the goal.

But forward Gustavo Leal, who led the Zodiac with five shots, scored in the 80th minute. Juan Guerrero, who got the ball in the center of the field, waited until Long Island goalkeeper Manuel Carou came out of the goal. Guerrero popped the ball up to Leal, who headed it over Carou and into the goal from 15 yards.