The Cavaliers racked up an impressive win on Oct. 3, beating the Southeast Storm 4-0.
The Cavs commanded the first half, with a goal in the third minute from No. 23 George Hanson and assist by No. 18 Aston Owen.
Owen followed up with a goal of his own in the 43rd minute, after taking a pass from No. 14 Evan Burns. Burns intercepted a pass from the Storm’s goalie, giving Burns and Owen free reign to capitalize the now two-to-one matchup. With no defenders back, Owen rounded Burns, and tapped the ball in for an easy goal.
“I saw Burns’ angle and I knew his speed, and I just had to get around him,” Owen said, “I played it across and it was easy to tap in, [just] the way I like it.”
Southeast failed to keep tempo in the first half, good communication from the Cavs’ back line kept the Storm on the defensive.
“I’m able to see the whole field, it’s my job to let people know there is a man on [them], oh you gotta turn, you got time, and stuff like that,” said center back #19 Dalton Shipley, “It’s trusting them and them trusting me; that trust goes both ways.”
As the second half commenced, the Caves were put on the defensive, as the Storm kept the ball in JCCC territory for the first six minutes of the half. JCCC defenders deflected three Southeast shots, and the JCCC pushed back on the offensive.
No. 25 Johan Hernandez scored during the 73rd minute, and a goal from No. 22 Homer Skidmore in the 83rd minute put JCCC up 4-0.
This win finishes the team’s third game in seven days. The Cavaliers defeated Coffeyville 1-0 on Sept. 28, and lost 1-3 to Cowley community college on Oct. 1.
Head coach Jeff Cole intends to give his players some well deserved rest before they prepare for rival Kansas City community college on Oct. 12.
“The boys just finished three games in [seven] days, so the boys are gonna have to have a couple days off,” Cole said, “We’ll train Thursday and Friday, and then a couple days off on the weekend, then come back next week, ready to go for KCK.”
In preparation for their crosstown rival KCKCC, Cole wants his team to focus on precision and ball-handling in the final third.
“[We have to] work on our press, and then areas in the final third as far as the final ball,” Cole said, “Against Cowley on Saturday, we had a couple of really good opportunities to score and weren’t very clinical. Possession in the middle third as well is another area we can possibly concentrate on.”
Mens soccer will play at home on Oct. 12 against Kansas City Community College.
Jake Twigg, sports editor