MEN'S SOCCER PLAYS HARTNELL TO SCORELESS TIE

SANTA MARIA-- Defense was the name of the game Friday afternoon on the campus field, as the Allan Hancock College men's soccer team battled visiting Hartnell College to a 0-0 draw.

Hancock (2-3-5) completed the non-conference portion of its 2005 schedule with an unprecedented fifth tie in 10 contests. The Bulldogs and Panthers played to a 2-2 draw in the championship final of the Hartnell Tournament back on Sept. 4. AHC took the event's first-place trophy in a shoot-out.

But there was no shoot-out Friday. Although AHC controlled the action throughout the first half, the Bulldogs were unable to score a goal. Hancock had three golden opportunities in the period, but sailed the either ball high or wide on each occasion. In the second half, the teams settled into a defensive stalemate that favored neither side.

Freshman goalkeeper Jose Perez (Santa Ynez), sophomore sweeper Victor Velasco (Santa Maria) and sophomore center Tim Brocklehurst (Santa Maria) played consistently tough in the Bulldogs' defensive zone.

AHC opens Western State Conference play with a pair of road matches next week, visiting Citrus College in Azusa on Tuesday (Sept. 27) and L.A. Mission College in Van Nuys on Friday (Sept. 29).