Knights take two to tie

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE — Like the predicted cloud bursts that never transpired, Saturday afternoon could have been a lot worse for the St. Francis High boys’ soccer team than what actually materialized.

The host Golden Knights fell behind by two goals after 35 minutes, but rallied for two scores in tying rival Loyola 2-2 in Mission League play at Friedman Field during a free-rain match.

“With all things considered, a tie isn’t that bad,” Golden Knights Coach Glen Appels said. “They scored a couple of quick goals that could have easily knocked us out, but didn’t.”

In a near inverse of a 2-2 tie to Chaminade on Thursday, this time the Golden Knights (4-7-5 overall, 3-1-2 in league) trailed 2-1 heading into the final 10 minutes when junior Brookes Treidler headed in a 10-yard goal into the corner of the net.

Only two days earlier, it was the Golden Knights who surrendered a 2-1 advantage to Chaminade with a tying score in the 78th minute from Stephen Matoesian.

Treidler’s score came after senior midfielder Matt Laterza notched St. Francis’ first goal on a successful penalty kick.

“We’ve had a couple [of penalty kicks] this season and I just always take them,” said Laterza, who also converted a penalty kick versus Chaminade. “I haven’t missed yet. Just as long as I stay confident, I feel that I can keep scoring them.”

The penalty kick was awarded after a handball in the goal mouth was called versus Loyola (13-3-4, 3-0-3), which entered the match ranked No. 6 in Division I of the latest CIF Southern Section poll.

The Cubs opened the game with a mini blitz, scoring goals in the 30th and 35th minutes by Michael Sandoval and Henry Herrill.

St. Francis junior Luca Coppola recovered from the goals and finished with six saves.