Monsters Finish the Season with a 9-0 Win Against Gateway CC

Gateway Game Recap- By Coach Robert Peters

October 17, 2023- EAC Men's Soccer took on Gateway College at Phoenix College for their last game of the 2023 season.  

The first half started off strong with Eastern Arizona College getting on board within the first 5 minutes of the game. It was a multiple pass build-up that was capitalized with a give-and-go between Ronardo Burgher and Anthony Berrios who found the back of the net. The half continued with strong play and continued pressure, but the Monsters were unable to find the back of the net due to the Gecko's keeper making multiple key saves. The half ended with 20 shots for the Monsters and 1 for the Geckos. 

The second half started off where EAC ended and EAC found themselves with another goal just three minutes into the second half. This time a multiple pass buildup found the Monsters taking two shots that were saved by the Geckos goalie inside the 6-yard box. Eventually, Carrick Stewart found the ball for a tap-in off a shot by Leo Passos Aquino. The next goal would have to wait for another 9 minutes when Samuel Nunes de Araujo found Leo Aquino who beat the Gecko keeper on a quick shot into the left corner of the net. After that, the Monsters found the net 3 more times in four minutes. Anthony Berrios Scored his second goal of the match, once again assisted by Ronardo Burgher. "Right after Anthony found Ivan on a square pass, Ivan struck home from 30 yards out," says Coach Peters.

To complete the barrage, Roberto Arballo found the back of the net from a pass by Anthony Berrios. The game would take another 6 and a half minutes for the monsters to find their next goal. "This one made history," as the Monsters had their first Hattrick in a game, " with a pass from Carrick Stewart to Anthony Berrios through the back line that Anthony finished calmly into the back of the net," says Coach Peters. Shortly after Anthony came out of the game and Roberto Arballo followed suit by scoring the second ever Men's hat trick with the two final goals. Roberto scored his first from a feed by Ivan Felix that Roberto cut to the top left corner of the box and finished with a hard shot to the lower left corner. To follow up the monsters were given a free kick 30 yards out that Roberto buried in the upper right corner of the Gecko's goal.  

The game ended with 42 shots by EAC to 2 shots by GCC and with the Monsters' single-most goals in a game.

The Monsters ended 6-7-2 on the season and 4-5-1 in the ACCAC.