Come from behind 3-2 win 

 

It was a game of ups and downs, but in the end it was the San Francisco Seals who were feeling up, and Orange County were left down with the Blues, as the Seals came from behind twice to defeat the Blue Stars 3-2.

 

Kellan Wilson struck again - twice - and Efrain Burgos Jr. (Junior) got his second of the season, and an assist as well.

 

Orange County got on the scoreboard first in the 20th minute with a goal by Fernando Monge as he shot the ball past keeper Eric Conner.  Three minutes later the Seals tied up the score. 

 

Kellan Wilson was driving with the ball thru the middle of the Blue Star defense, when he was brought down by David Sias just outside the arc at the top of the box.  In that position of the field, Junior is one of the most dangerous players there is on the field.  His shot went low & around the wall and into the far post where Blue Star keeper Jake Write never had a  chance. 

 

At times in the first half the Seals played like . . . well, like they had just had a 10 hour trip in a car, got out, stretched, changed, warmed up a little, and started to play . . . which is exactly what they had done.  "It was a grueling two hours to get through LA to the field," said coach Tom Simpson.  "But it seems like there is some magic in that formula.  I don't think we've ever lost an away game when we've done that," he added.

 

While at times the play from the Seals looked lack luster, it also had a spark and energy that seemed like it would burst out like a tidal wave.  Playing a lot on the right side in building up to the attack, the Seals would suddenly have three and four runners up top.  If they could only find the net.

 

It was the Blue Star who made it happen first, in the 37th minute.  Once again it was Murphy sending the ball in, this time from a corner kick, and Joel Smith knocked it in with a quick easy shot. 

 

The jolt from the suddenness of the goal seemed to wake up the Seals who renewed their energy and came charging at the Blue Star.  Two minutes later, in the 39th minute, Junior send in a ball from the left side which Wilson smashed in with a header, and the Seals had tied it up 2-2.  It remained that way at the half.

 

The second half had the sun in Blue Star keeper Wright's eyes, but the Seals forwards struggled as well.  The game seemed to be up for grabs.  Both teams moved the ball well, and at times both teams struggled to complete their passes.  But both teams were working hard.

 

In the 74th minute Duane Saunders, who had come in for Stephen Cordova in the 55th minute, took away the ball from the Blue Stars with a hard fought individual effort, and pushed the ball out to a streaking Rawlston Masaniai.  Kellan Wilson pulled the defense wide with a run to the outside right, and when the defender moved back in to challenge Masaniai, he put the ball through to Wilson who drove on the keeper, and blasted it by him for the winning goal.

 

"It felt great!" said Wilson. 

 

The Seals remain undefeated for the season, and move to Ventura for a 5pm game on Sunday night. 

 

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