by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
As wins go, they don’t get much better than Kansas City Kansas Community College’s extra period 2-1 win over Iowa Central Sunday.
Alejandro Maillet, a sophomore midfielder from Copenhagen, Denmark, headed home the game winner in the opening three minutes of overtime to give the Blue Devils (1-1-1) their first win of the season. The game-winner came on an assist from Cheslyn Ashby, a freshman from Johannesburg, South Africa.
The “Golden Goal” set off a long and wild celebration as the entire squad engulfed Maillet and Ashby.
“The game winner was a pin point cross from Cheslyn that Alejandro buried in the net with a powerful header,” KCKCC assistant coach Burke Slusher said. “The play was a team goal that started with the back and played through the midfield before eventually finding Ashby on the right flank. Ashby worked to beat a defender to drive the ball over another defender to find Maillet on a long run from the midfield.”
KCKCC took an early lead on a goal by sophomore Marco Cabral on an assist from freshman Elijah Bathily only to have Iowa Central tie it a few minutes later and the contest turned in to an exhausting defensive battle.
“Pretty much a standoff the second half with both teams trading possessions,” Slusher said. “It was a good win for us. Our guys are learning how to play together and trust one another. We just need to keep rolling.”
