by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Getting standout offensive performances from sophomores Breyson Ruiz and Steven Sosa, Kansas City Kansas Community College’s unbeaten men’s soccer team made it four wins in a row with a 5-2 triumph at Hesston Tuesday.
Ruiz, a midfielder from Harmon, turned in a hat trick (three goals) and Sosa added a goal and three assists as the Blue Devils led all the way as they head into opening Jayhawk Conference play Thursday when they play host to Allen County in the second half of a doubleheader at 7 p.m.
Despite a late start because of weather, the Blue Devils outshot the Larks 14-6 in opening a 2-0 halftime lead. Harmon freshman Jonathan Rodriguez got KCKCC in front with 22 minutes left in the half on a pass from Sosa, a midfielder from Lake Worth, Fla. Ten minutes later, Osage City freshman Pavin Cole slipped a perfect pass to Sosa, who fought off a Hesston defender with a shot into the corner of the goal.
The Blue Devils made it 3-0 14 minutes into the second half. Dribbling towards the goal, Sosa dropped a back heel pass to a sprinting Ruiz who pounded in a shot from 23 yards out.
However, Hesston scored twice in three minutes to close to 3-2 and it took two Ruiz goals to protect the lead. The first came at the 68th minute as Ruiz got behind the Hesston defense on a midfield pass from Sosa and beat the goalkeeper one-on-one. Six minutes later, Miege sophomore took a ball on the flank, beat a defender and slid a low pass to Ruiz, who banged in his third goal from eight yards out.
“A solid performance,” said KCKCC coach Ruben Rodriguez. “I’m proud of the effort and performance but we still need to play a full 90 minutes. We need to make sure we don’t let our guard down.”
Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.