Just when Port Of Los Angeles High boys soccer was seemingly left for dead, and on their way to a fourth straight loss to begin the 2013-2014 season... Casey came up to bat, and this time, Casey hit a home run.

Junior forward Casey Kane saw a crack in the Mary Star defense and somehow squeezed in a close-range shot in the 74th minute past the out-of-position senior goalie Steve Mendez, allowing the host Polar Bears to tie the intersectional and neighboring game, 1-1 at Daniels Field Wednesday. Kane's goal, ironically the first of the season for the whole team, just might lift the defending Crosstown League champions out of a slump.

POLA (0-3-1 overall) had already suffered three straight 2-0 losses to the likes of Chadwick of Rolling Hills Estates, Collin's Family of Huntington Park and in-city neighbor San Pedro earlier in the week.

Mary Star (1-0-1) would score early in the ninth minute when sophomore forward Nicholas Renfroe would blast in a shot off a corner kick from senior midfielder Freddy Morales, and it seemed like that 1-0 Stars lead would hold up with Mendez stopping shot after shot, coming up with seven saves.

Late in the first half, Mendez would somehow avoid disaster when a breakaway try for POLA senior midfielder Cesar Garcia was broken up on a clean sliding tackle by Mary Star senior defender Joey Osborne in the 30th minute. Morales was not able to provide the insurance goal for Mary Star as his free kick was stopped by POLA junior goalie Elias Valenzuela in the 66th minute, opening the door for Kane's heroics just eight minutes prior.

POLA will next travel to face Maranatha of Pasadena in another intersectional game on December 18, while the Stars will travel for their next game on Friday to face Brethren Christian of Huntington Beach.