Category: KCKCC

Ranked No. 19 in NJCAA poll, Lady Blue Devils soccer team nips Cavaliers in 3-2 thriller

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

It was 24 hours of firsts for women’s soccer at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

On Tuesday, the Lady Blue Devils learned that they were nationally ranked for the first time in the eight-year history of the sport – No. 19 in the latest NJCAA Division II national poll. On Wednesday, they validated the ranking by defeating Johnson County 3-2, the first win ever over their arch-rivals in Overland Park.

“Obviously, it’s good to get a win over our cross-town rival,” fourth year coach Shawn Uhlenhake said. “We beat a good team today, another step that shows we’re competing at a high level. It’s also great they’re getting the recognition they deserve. It’s a team that enjoys competing and being around each other. They’re having fun and when you’re having fun it’s easier to go to practice and they’re getting positive results. But it’s so early in the season and so much left and now everyone will be coming after us.”

The win boosted the Blue Devils’ record to 6-1 with the only loss to No. 6 ranked Butler County 3-2 in overtime. At 3-1 in Jayhawk action, the Blue Devils and Cowley (3-1) trail Butler (3-1-1) by a half-game. KCKCC is right back in action Saturday, home against Allen County at 5 p.m. before embarking on a treacherous road trip to Coffeyville next Wednesday and Butler a week from Saturday.

Trailing JCCC 1-0 early, the Blue Devils surged to a 3-1 lead on an exhaustingly hot day with temperatures in the 90s.

“It was miserably hot and Johnson County came at us very hard the last 20 minutes,” Uhlenhake said. “But we battled through it. It was tough. I feel fortunate to get away with a win.”

The Cavaliers took a 1-0 lead at the 24:52 mark of the opening half on a goal by Kayla Ambrose on an assist by Gail Logan before the Blue Devils surged ahead 2-1 on a pair of deflections in the final seven minutes of the first half. Sophomore Karleigh Enyart got the tying goal off a corner kick at 38:03 and 1½ minutes later, KCKCC had a 2-1 lead on a shot from 15 feet out by freshman Connie Hughes on an assist from sophomore Kayla Deaver.

What proved to be the winning goal came just seven minutes into the second half, an unassisted missile by freshman Melissa Siegel from 30 yards out into the upper right corner of the net.

“An absolutely beautiful free kick,” Uhlenhake said. “She’s come close all year and finally put one away, a great goal.”

JCCC’s Ambrose scored her second goal the game on an assist from Kayla Flores with 26:33 remaining before the Blue Devil defense held firm headed by freshman goaltender Jaidyn Takaishi, who had five saves on the Cavaliers seven shots on goal. Meanwhile, the Blue Devils launched nine shots on goal against two JCCC goaltenders.

The KCKCC win was the first in 11 contests with the Cavaliers although the two teams battled to two ties last season. JCCC leads the all-time series 7-1-3.

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College men’s soccer players dug themselves a hole from which they could not escape at Johnson County Wednesday. Scoring twice in the first 27 minutes, the Cavaliers held on for a 2-1 win despite being outshot the second half.

The loss dropped the Blue Devils (1-2) into fourth place in the jumbled Jayhawk Conference standings. Cowley College leads at 3-0-1 followed by Johnson County 2-0-1 and Neosho 2-1.

The Blue Devils, who are 2-3-1 overall, get a chance to get back to the .500 mark when they play host to Allen County Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The game will follow a 5 p.m. women’s contest.

Freshman Jorge Monferrer scored KCKCC’s lone goal on an assist from sophomore Leonardo Notarnicola with 12 minutes left in the second half. Ramon Bravo scored both Johnson County goals on assists from Kyle Reese and Brad Tulley in a six-minute span midway through the first half.

“A very disappointing game,” KCKCC coach Ruben Rodriguez said. “We got off to an extremely slow start in the first half and then had to play catch up in the second half, which unfortunately didn’t happen.”

The Blue Devils had 10 shots on goal including seven in the second half. Meanwhile, JCCC launched 12 shots but only two the second half. KCKCC goalkeeper Bosco Pery was credited with six saves; JCCC’s Pedro Ivaskoski with nine saves.

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College’s young women’s soccer team went on the biggest scoring spree in history Saturday, scoring a record eight goals in an 8-0 blanking of Metropolitan Community College on the Blue River campus.

Led by sophomore Kayla Deaver and freshman Melisa Siegel, the Blue Devils took a 3-0 lead in the first 15 minutes and led 6-0 at halftime.

The win was the third in a row and boosted KCKCC’s overall record to 5-1 heading into a 2 p.m. collision Wednesday with arch-rival Johnson County in Overland Park.

The game will have far-reaching effects on the Jayhawk Conference race. The Blue Devils (2-1) are one of four teams with just one loss along with Butler (3-1), Cowley (3-1) and Coffeyville (2-1).

A forward from Lee’s Summit, Deaver had a “hat trick” with three goals along with two assists while Siegel had one goal and assisted on four others

“Deaver was shot out of a cannon in the opening minutes and we just kept rolling, ” KCKCC coach Shawn Uhlenhake said.

The other goals were scored by sophomore Ruth Nunez of Liberal and freshmen Maddy Broeker of Lincoln, Nebraska; Jaidyn Yingling of Topeka Seaman; and Kayley Pedersen of Shawnee Mission West.

“We played well, we really did,” Uhlenhake said. “I felt from the time we stepped on the field for warmups that we were ready to play. The defense got a shut out which was good; they deserved it. “

“We got better today,” assistant coach Sara Matthews said. “It was good for us to implement our ideas in possession and get everyone involved in the run of play. Melissa Siegel had another game of playing perfect balls through the defense and had four assists.”

Defensively, freshman Jaidyn Takaishi and sophomore Karleigh Enyart were credited with the shutout in goal.

“Sydney Guerra and Paige Liston anchored a solid back line,” Matthews said. “Sydney continuously talks and organizes us from the back; Paige was solid winning balls and distributing.”