by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Undefeated Schoolcraft College of Livonia, Mich., lived up to its No. 2 national ranking Monday by dealing Kansas City Kansas Community College a 2-0 defeat in opening round play of the NJCAA Division I national soccer tournament in Prescott, Ariz.
Third in the nation in shutouts going into the national tournament, it was the 13th blanking of the season for the Ocelots (16-0). Schoolcraft also ranked fourth in goals scored this season with 88 entering the national tourney.
Ranked No. 10 in the NJCAA poll and seeded No. 11 in their first-ever appearance in the national tournament, the Blue Devils (13-4-1) now take on No. 7 Monroe College of Rochester, N.Y., Tuesday at 1 p.m.
To reach the national semifinals, the Blue Devils must beat Monroe and then have Monroe beat Schoolcraft. If that happens, the tiebreaker will be decided by goals scored.
Scoreless through the first half, Schoolcraft broke the 0-0 deadlock on an unassisted goal by Hakeem Sadler just a minute and 15 seconds into the second half and then made it 2-0 at the 64:52 mark on an unassisted goal by Tavon Barnes.
KCKCC actually had more shots against Schoolcraft, 19, against 12 for the Ocelots. However, Schoolcraft goalkeeper Juan Gomez turned back all five Blue Devil shots on goal while the Ocelots were successful on two of the five shots they had on goal.