Late Goals Stun Venice

Garcia Nets Three in Last Seven Minutes of Pali’s 4-3 Victory

Osbaldo Garcia scored three goals in the final seven minutes to lift the Palisades High boys varsity soccer team to a thrilling 4-3 victory in a wild game against Venice Monday afternoon at Stadium by the Sea. Garcia completed his ‘hat trick’ in the first minute of injury time on a skillful solo run, but the Dolphins’ victory was a total team effort. Garcia tied the game in the 79th minute when he redirected a corner kick from Davis Lau into the net. Carlos Arteaga scored in the second minute off of an assist from Garcia. But Pali’s lead did not last long. Venice tied the game before halftime and added two goals in two minutes early in the second half to take a 3-1 lead. Pali Coach Dave Suarez made a strategical switch in his lineup, changing the Dolphins’ formation from a 4-4-2 (four defenders, four midfielders and two forwards) to a 3-4-3 (three defenders, four midfielders and three forwards) in an effort to generate more offense. The move worked, as Pali began pressuring the Venice goalie. Garcia dribbled past two defenders and rattled a shot off the post and in for an unassisted goal in the 72nd minute that pulled Palisades within a goal, 3-2. After Garcia scored to tie the game, Suarez switched his lineup back to a 4-4-2 and Garcia scored the go-ahead goal moments later. Garcia leads the Dolphins (7-3-1 overall, 6-2-1 in league) with 14 goals and four assists. Arteaga received two yellow cards and sat out Wednesday’s game at first-place L.A. Hamilton.