By Jim Richards

The pressure always builds during the second half of ACCAC play and the South Mountain men’s soccer team has responded like a team that’s not only going to reach the playoffs, but one that will stick around for a while as well.

A few days after defeating Scottsdale while coach-less, the Cougars swept the regular-season series with highly touted Phoenix College with a thrilling 3-2 victory in front of packed bleachers again on the SMCC soccer field.

Once again, Efrain Morfin Jr. was the game’s hero, netting the game-winning goal with only 21 seconds to play in regulation as the Cougars withstood a furious Phoenix College rally that brought it back from a 2-0 deficit.

Morfin rebounded Matt Marcum’s shot from the left of the net after Theo Kwi wisely sent the ball into the box. The win lifts the Cougars to a 7-5 record in the tight ACCAC and marked their third consecutive victory after a four-game losing streak.

“It was pretty ugly,” SMCC coach Mark Wilson said. “We let them come back and we decided in the last couple of minute to start playing again. But, it’s a huge win.”

Wilson had to attend a family wedding on Saturday while assistant coach Marcelo Piana was ineligible to coach due to a red card he incurred the previous game. The Cougars managed a 1-0 win with popular Athletic Director Chris Haines and baseball coach Todd Eastin overseeing the squad.

“We don’t need any coaches,” Morfin said jokingly, within earshot of Wilson. “We came out and played with a lot of heart.”

Luis Paez and Jonatan Botero also scored in the Phoenix victory. SMCC had defeated PC by a 1-0 score in the second conference game.

The Cougars will hit the road for three games, starting Saturday at Glendale, Wednesday in Yuma against Arizona Western and the following Wednesday at Chandler-Gilbert.

Wednesday’s win, coupled with Wednesday’s 1-1 tie between Paradise Valley (6-5-1) and Mesa (7-4-1) pulled the Cougars into fourth place in the competitive ACCAC. Six teams will reach the playoffs.