Giants men's soccer opens with loss, tie

College of the Sequoias men's soccer team couldn't make an early lead hold up while dropping its season-opener 4-2 at Bakersfield on March 5 in the debut of coach Renato Bustamante.

The Giants jumped out to a 2-0 lead behind a goal from Sebastian Caballero-Lopez (Golden West) that was assisted by Christian Velarde (Reedley), and an unassisted goal from Cesar Melgar (Monache).

But the Renegades would pull ahead in the second half on goals Miguel Ceja and Angel Cervantes.

Sequoias again saw a 2-0 lead slip away during a 2-2 tie against visiting Bakersfield on March 6.

Velarde put the Giants ahead 1-0 in the 11th minute, converting off assists from Alejandro Saldana (El Diamante) and Salvador Chavez (Redwood).

Marques Carrillo (Golden West) made it 2-0 Sequoias in the 29th minute when he scored off a feed from Julian Estrada (Mt. Whitney).

Bakersfield's Raymond Matta cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 42nd minute, then the Renegades tied the score in the 77th minute on a Cervantes goal.

Up next for Sequoias in its abbreviated, six-game season is Antelope Valley. 

The Giants will play in Lancaster at 3 p.m. March 12 in the Marauders' season opener, then host Antelope Valley at 3 p.m. March 13.