Glendale soccer rallies late to get tie with Hoover
SOUTHEAST GLENDALE — Avo Haroutunian came across the field and launched a 35-yard shot toward the net. The Glendale High boys’ soccer player then encountered a brief moment of suspense to find out what the end result would be.
It turned out to be a windfall for Haroutunian, whose shot went underneath the crossbar with five minutes left to help host Glendale pick up a 1-1 Pacific League tie against Hoover on Friday afternoon at Moyse Field.
“We were down late in the game and I got off that shot,” Haroutunian said. “I actually thought it might go over the crossbar and it kind of dipped at the last second.
“It was an amazing feeling to see it go in. I was a little surprised. We are satisfied to come out of it with a tie.”
Glendale improved to 7-7-2, 2-4-1 in league for seven points. Hoover is 2-5-3, 1-4-2 for five points.
The Nitros received a spark following Haroutunian’s goal and nearly won it twice in the final two minutes of regulation. Andre Andreasian lined a shot flush off the crossbar in the 78th minute before Serozh Kirakosyan popped a shot over the crossbar with about a minute remaining.
“It’s always a good rivalry game,” Hoover Coach Kevin Cadenas said. “It’s just tough to have a tie in which you give up a goal in the last five minutes.
“That was a good shot. A great goal. I thought the passion was there and we fought throughout. We just had some bad luck in the last few minutes.”
Hoover wasted little time getting started in the second half.
At the 20-second mark, Hoover’s Kevin De Paz found Argin Haghoubian upfield with a pass that Haghoubian headed past Glendale goalkeeper Chris Aquino to make it 1-0.
“It wasn’t a set play,” said Haghoubian, who scored a pair of goals in Hoover’s 2-2 tie against Burbank on Wednesday. “I was able to get down the middle and find enough room to get to the ball.
“We knew Glendale would come back and they did a good job. We have to concentrate more and not keep losing points.”
Each team had one good scoring opportunity in the first half.
Pablo Buenrostro of Glendale had a shot blocked by De Paz in the box in the first minute. Hoover’s Artin Almary took a 25-yard shot that sailed just over the crossbar in the fifth minute.
Glendale first-year Coach Artur Aghasyan said the Nitros will look to bounce back in the second half of league.
“We seem to get a lot of chances, but we just can’t finish,” Aghasyan said. “We have to get better at that if we want to move up.
“Avo scored on a great shot and he was hungry. We almost won it. I just wish we could score more goals.”
Glendale and Hoover will meet again at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at Toll Middle School.
Glendale and Hoover will take part in league matches Tuesday. Glendale will play at Crescenta Valley at 3:15 p.m. Hoover will meet first-place Burroughs at 3:30 p.m. at Toll.
