by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College got the 2015 men’s soccer season off to a spectacular start, scoring in the 16th minute of overtime for a 3-2 win over Blue River Tuesday.
The Lady Blue Devils, however, were not as successful, falling 2-0 on a pair of second half goals. The KCKCC women are right back in action at Lincoln College Saturday at 4 p.m. while the men are home Monday for a 7 p.m. clash with Cloud County.
A perfectly timed give-and-go goal won it for the Blue Devil men as freshman Thiago Elias returned a throw-in from sophomore Great Ubochi, who lofted the game-winning goal from the sideline into the corner of the net to set off a wild victory celebration in the Jayhawk Conference opener.
The Blue Devils took a 2-0 lead in the first half. Sophomore captain Jahren Barrow got the Blue Devils in front 1-0 in the 16th minute on a penalty kick after Steve Sosa had been taken down in the penalty box on a breakaway. Barrow also assisted on the second goal, delivering a well-aimed shot that freshman Leonardo Da Silva headed into the back of the net with 25 minutes gone in the contest.
“We were very solid for 30 minutes, attacking and defending very hard,” said coach Ruben Rodriguez.
Blue River cut the KCKCC lead in half on a free kick with nine minutes left in the half and then took advantage of a Blue Devil miscue to tie it early in the second half. Led by freshman goalkeeper Kenneth Herron, the Blue Devils turned back several Trailblazer threats in the final 35 minutes of regulation time before Elias and Ubochi teamed for the game-winner.
Blue River’s women took advantage of two second errors for the 2-0 win in the opener.
“It was a great start to the beginning of the season,” said first year coach Jeremy Winzer. “We came out on fire in the first half with lots of energy but just could not connect in the final third of the field. This team is young and learning how to play with each other and will get better. The young ladies came back Wednesday with a great attitude which I think shows the character and maturity of the team.”
Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.