by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Strong veteran leadership and exciting newcomers: That’s the combination the coaching staff at Kansas City Kansas Community College has put together for the 2015 men’s soccer team which opens the season with a flurry of home contests.
Last year, the Blue Devils played 10 of their 15 matches on the road which contributed to several close setbacks despite controlling many of the contests.
That all reverses this year. The Blue Devils play their first three matches and five of the first six at home and then finish the year with three in a row at home. The opener comes Tuesday in a women’s-men’s doubleheader with Blue River at 5:30 and 8 p.m. followed by Cloud County Aug. 31 and Maple Woods Sept. 3.
With a squad of eight sophomores and 16 freshmen, head coach Ruben Rodriguez and assistant Burke Slusher have the most talent and depth in several years.
“We worked very hard on recruiting high level student-athletes who will push for starting spots this fall and I believe we were very successful,” said Rodriguez, who is in his fourth year as head coach. “Many of the incoming class were standouts on their high school and club teams.”
The freshmen will be melded into a player pool of solid sophomore returnees that includes defenders Colin Dujakovich of Shawnee Mission North, Nicholas Marquez of Bishop Miege, Great Ubochi of Ocoee, Fla., and Jahren Barrow of the United Kingdom; midfielders Junior Agbor of Shawnee Mission Northwest and Lucas Franco of Bishop Miege; and transfer midfielders Breyson Ruiz of Harmon and Steven Sosa of Lake Worth, Fla.
“Our group of returners made an immediate impact as freshmen.” Rodriguez said. Slusher, who is in his second year as assistant, concurs.
“They’re a smart, skilled group, each of them will be very good leaders for the talented class of freshmen we have coming in,” Slusher said. “We played great soccer in many of our games last year. We simply didn’t have the finishers we needed to tip the scales of those close games in our favor. We believe that will be different in 2015.”
The class of incoming freshmen is a mixture of area and international players including five players from Harmon, midfielders Jesse Calderon, Giovanni Calderon and Jesus Galvan, defender Mario Sandoval and forward Jonathan Rodriguez; and two from Turner, defender David Jones and midfielder Luis Rivera.
The recruiting class also includes goalkeepers Kenneth Herron of Shawnee Mission North and Darryl Baptiste of Orlando, Fla.; midfielders Pavin Cole of Shawnee Heights in Topeka and Tanner Helms and defender Jake Salmons, both of Southern Boone High in Ashland, Mo.; forward Thomas Disley of the United Kingdom and three Brazilians, midfielder Thiago Elias and defenders Leonardo Da Silva and Gabriel Ferreira.
“We were very selective this offseason, making every effort to handpick a group of boys that are both very committed soccer players as well as students,” said said. “We believe that all of these boys will succeed in the class room and have a great chance to move on in two years to any NAIA or NCAA soccer programs. We think the Blue Devil soccer program has some exciting times ahead.”
Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.
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Kansas City Kansas Community College
2015 MEN’S SOCCER SCHEDULE
Aug. 25 – BLUE RIVER, Home 8 p.m.
Aug. 31 – CLOUD COUNTY*, Home 7 p.m.
Sept. 3 – MAPLE WOODS, Home 4 p.m.
Sept. 8 – Hesston College*, Away 7 p.m.
Sept. 10 – ALLEN COUNTY*, Home 7 p.m.
Sept. 15 – GARDEN CITY*, Home 8 p.m.
Sept. 17 – Cowley College*, Away 4 p.m.
Sept. 22 – Wentworth Military*, Away 6 p.m.
Sept. 24 – Pratt*, Away 4 p.m.
THUNDER DUCK TOURNAMENT
Oct. 2 – San Jancito 7 p.m.
Oct. 3 – Western Texas 3 p.m.
Oct. 8 – Coffeyville*, Away 7 p.m.
Oct. 10 – Neosho County*, Away 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 – JOHNSON COUNTY*, Home 8 p.m.
Oct. 16 – DODGE CITY*, Home 8 p.m.
Oct. 26 – BARTON COUNTY*, Home 6:30 p.m.
• – Jayhawk Conference