Reseda Gets Kicks in Overtime Work

Despite squandering a two-goal lead in the second half and a one-goal lead in overtime Wednesday, the Reseda High boys’ soccer team rallied to defeat Huntington Park in penalty kicks and win a City Section second-round game at Reseda.

The score was tied, 3-3, after 30 minutes of overtime before the second-seeded Regents (22-3-2) used a 4-2 advantage in penalty kicks and advanced to host 10th-seeded San Pedro in a quarterfinal game on Friday.

Reseda, the defending City champion, defeated San Pedro, 2-1, in a December game at the Hart tournament. The Regents last season eliminated the Pirates, 3-2, in overtime in the quarterfinals.

On Wednesday, Jesse Servin gave Reseda a 2-0 lead 10 minutes into the second half and a 3-2 lead 12 minutes into overtime. The junior forward, who scored the decisive penalty kick, said he wasn’t nervous.

“I have faith in my team and I believe we have enough heart and skill to walk through the City again,” said Servin, who has 15 goals. “Most of us on this team have been through tougher games than this.”

Reseda took its overtime lead after a Tibor Reszneki cross bounced off Kenny Zepeda’s chest and sent Servin alone on goalkeeper Ivan Gudino.

Huntington Park (9-7-2), seeded 18th, played the last minutes of regulation and overtime down a man after Oscar Delgado was ejected for a flagrant foul.

The Spartans extended the game to penalty kicks when Sabino Rivera scored his second goal of the game on a penalty shot 17 minutes into overtime.

“When they scored that third goal it got me [worrying] a little bit,” said Julio Castillo, Reseda’s co-coach. “But what we went through in the playoffs last year helps a lot. These kids know they have a goal and they’re so much more mature than last year.”

Oscar Sims scored his 22nd goal in the first minute to give Reseda a 1-0 lead. Sims, Edwin Miranda and Carlos Morales converted penalty kicks before Servin’s final shot.

Regent goalkeeper Franklin Ascencio blocked Huntington Park’s first penalty shot attempt and the Spartans’ second shot bounced off the cross bar.