Nothing has come easy for the Maxwell soccer team in its inaugural season on the pitch, but the Panthers have never stopped playing hard.
Last Monday, in Colusa, the team turned in another gritty performance, this time stunning the RedHawks with a late rally to come away with a 3-3 draw in the first ever meeting between the two squads.
Following a scoreless first half, Colusa came out strong in the second, as Charlie Santana netted the game’s first goal, and Francisco Hernandez put two in the back of the net to seemingly put the game away for the RedHawks.
Yet, Maxwell was unfazed, answering with three goals of its own in the final 12 minutes of the match.
Walter Avery got the Panthers on the board, and then, in rapid succession, Berto Lara struck for two goals that would knot the score at three apiece before time expired.
It was the only game for Maxwell (1-3-1), who this week traveled to Los Molinos on Jan. 31 to face the Lions in its final match of the season.
Colusa (6-7-2, 3-2-1) rebounded to defeat Sacramento Valley League foe Los Molinos 2-0 on Jan. 25, but then had to settle for another 3-3 tie in its game against Pierce.
The RedHawks squared off against the SVL’s top two teams this week when they welcomed Live Oak to town, on Tuesday, before hosting Winters today. ■