Fight tarnishes Bucs’ big win

Bryce Alderton

Fires may be burning in other parts of Southern California, but the

Orange Coast College soccer field became engulfed with flames of a

different nature Tuesday afternoon.

The OCC men’s soccer team led, 9-0, in the 67th minute against

visiting Orange Empire Conference opponent Golden West when Rustler

defender Alex Jelev, noticeably irritated from the game’s early

stages, put OCC freshman Brandon Lutfy in a headlock and began

punching the top of his head as the two wrestled to the ground. Lutfy

had gently hit Jelev’s shoes on a slide tackle, causing the Rustler

to react. Players on the field from both teams ran toward Lutfy and

Jelev near the west sideline.

Lutfy and Jelev were on the ground for about 15 seconds before

coaches from both teams and referees separated players from the

huddle.

“It was [stupid], they were losing and frustrated,” Lutfy said. “I

made the cleanest tackle. It was not intentional.”

OCC Coach Laird Hayes and Golden West’s leader Matt Wells then

spoke with officials for about 10 minutes at midfield and both agreed

to end the game at that point.

Wells sensed tempers escalated as the game progressed, but said

there was no prior animosity to elicit such behavior.

“The score was out of hand and players got prideful,” Wells said.

“Players want to get back by physical play.”

Earlier in the second half an OCC defender walked to the sideline

with a bloodied lip after getting elbowed by an opponent.”

“We didn’t practice [Monday] because of the [smoke from the fires]

and we came into this game not focused,” Wells said.

Wells attempted to avoid any conflict by instructing team captain

Kyle Loftis to speak with OCC coaches.

“I wanted Kyle to tell them we were sorry and didn’t want anything

to happen,” Wells said. “I was one minute too late.”

Two Rustlers and one Pirate received red cards, which means they

will not be allowed to play in their team’s next game.

Lutfy, a Newport Harbor High product, said a one-game suspension

for one Golden West player is not enough.

“It should be a whole lot more than a whole game, like the rest of

the season,” he said. “This is not boxing, it is soccer.”

The brawl dampened an otherwise productive game for the Pirates,

whose nine goals are the most for the team this season.

Coast (10-4-1, 7-2-1 in the OEC) had eight different players score

goals against the Rustlers (4-8-3, 4-6).

Forward Jose Serpas scored twice while Matt Fennell, Nestor

Flores, Joel Sotolongo, Eric Nutter, Justin Newton, Miguel Ruiz and

Andres Lopez all found the back of the net while Eli Solis had three

assists to give him seven on the season. Will Sanchez, Aaron Pang and

Lopez added assists for the Pirates, who had a 6-0 lead at halftime

and scored their first goal on a penalty kick by Fennell in the

fourth minute.

“They were all good goals, not sloppy,” OCC assistant Kevin Smith

said of the offensive production. “We played very well.”

Coast goalkeeper Christian Lopez made one save as the Rustlers

managed just three shots.

Coast will play the first of its four remaining games at 3 p.m.

Friday at Santa Ana, one of the teams it is battling for the

conference crown. Irvine Valley (7-1-1 in the OEC) leads the

conference. The Lasers’ game against Santiago Canyon Tuesday was

canceled due to poor air quality. The game was rescheduled for

Monday.