Rustlers tie Dons

SANTA ANA — Golden West College sophomore forward Mark Hernandez said he is about 90% recovered from hamstring trouble that helped keep him off the scoreboard the first four games of the season, entering Tuesday’s Orange Empire Conference men’s soccer opener at Santa Ana.

But with two goals, including the equalizer in the 90th minute of a 2-2 tie, one has to wonder how much more dangerous he can become.

“I haven’t been fit because of injuries,” Hernandez said. “But I’ve been working my way back. I’m getting there.”

Golden West Coach Alex Gimenez said Hernandez, who played in four of the first five contests, of which he started three, provided a much-appreciated boost offensively in a battle of unbeaten teams on Tuesday.

“He was our top offensive guy last year,” Gimenez said of Hernandez’s team-best nine goals and five assists as a freshman, nine points better than the next-most-productive Rustler. “He’s been getting fit coming off injuries. I think today was the first game he played as many minutes as he did. It looked like he was ready.”

The Rustlers (3-0-3 and ranked No. 11 in the state), who won, 2-0, at Santa Ana last season, appeared ready to get another road win over the No. 9-ranked Dons (4-0-2), when they led, 1-0, at halftime.

Hernandez finished a cross from Erick Gomez in the 26th minute to seize the lead.

But Santa Ana, which came in on a three-game winning streak, answered with goals from Oscar Navarro (61st minute) and Leonardo Oliveira (71st minute) to flip the script.

Gomez, however, bent a corner kick toward the near post that Hernandez ran onto and flicked in with his head to salvage a hard-fought point for the visitors.

“This is a very difficult field [at which] to come and get a victory,” Gimenez said. “But we were ready for it and we thought we were going to get it.”

Hernandez, a first-team all-conference performer in 2015, helped Golden West, which at 8-2-4 in conference last season finished second behind Irvine Valley, remain unbeaten in 2016.

“I’m content [with the tie], even though we missed a couple chances,” Hernandez said. “We have a good team. If we play with the mentality that no matter what happens, we continue to push and don’t give up, we’ll get the results we want.”

Gimenez said he’ll take the point in the standings given for the tie.

“I’m very pleased with where the team is at right now,” said Gimenez, whose squad posted a 13-12 advantage in shots. “We’re still undefeated.”

Golden West goalkeeper Josue Catarino made three saves, and sophomore center backs Andres Guerra and Brian Montano also bolstered the Rustlers’ defense, Gimenez said.

Sophomore forward Anthony Saldana also stood out for the Rustlers, who visit El Camino-Compton Center on Friday at 3 p.m. and return to conference play on Tuesday at Cypress.