BATTALION DRAW DEPORTIVO CORAS 1-1

North County Battalion (2-1-1) traveled north to Riverside, CA for a Sunday night match and came away with one point vs. Deportivo Coras (2-1-1).

The Battalion got on the scoreboard first in the 47th minute when Blake Milton sent a free kick into the box. As a group of players crashed the net, a Coras defender’s attempt to clear the ball instead found his own net for the 1-0 Battalion lead.

James Stroud started in the goalkeeper position and came up big for North County. His first game after a six-month absence due to injury, Stroud played amazingly and was rewarded by being named the Sunrise Capital Man of the Match.

“It was amazing to be back in goal. Even more amazing to be wearing the crest for the first time,” Stroud said. “It’s been hard the first couple of games watching my boys go out and battle and not being with them.”

The action was fast-paced and both teams had plenty of opportunities to score, but tonight, the better opportunities fell at the foot of the home team. It seemed that the Battalion were on the way to a victory, but a hand ball foul in the 89th minute awarded Deportivo Coras a penalty kick. Coras forward Shane Shelton struck the ball to the bottom left corner, just out of the reach of Stroud’s outstretched hand.

Overall, Coras and Battalion alternated periods of attack and each team only converted one time en route to a final score of 1-1.

Next Sunday afternoon, the Battalion return to Del Norte High School to face Temecula FC. The game is scheduled for 1 pm with gates opening at noon.