Entering the final weeks of the Blue Knights’ 2005 men’s and women’s soccer seasons, both squads continue to show signs of progress despite a challenging schedule.
One challenge emerged in the women’s match against Rochester Community and Technical College on Oct. 15 when goalkeeper Lauren Lenertz (S. St. Paul) left the game with an injury after only 10 minutes in goal.
With Lenertz replaced by freshman midfielder Shannon Johnson (Apple Valley), the Knights continued on to play tough against RCTC. Coach Cam Stoltz credited Johnson for stepping up and taking goal. “She had limited experience in goal, but has a strong athletic background in softball and baseball,” he said. “Those are two sports required the hand-coordination skills you need in goal.”
After the keeper change and leading 1-0, the Knights gave up three second-half goals to RCTC only to come back and score two goals in the last eight minutes. The Blue Knights had numerous chances late in the game and in overtime to win, but could not convert, resulting in a 3-3 tie.
Blue Knight Soccer Notes
Kasey Dobbs, a freshman from Rosemount, continues her scoring tear, notching 59 points on the season thus far with 28 goals and three assists. Dobbs is currently ranked fifth in the nation among some 3,000 junior college soccer players. She has now tied Rebecca Noonan of DCTC (2003, 2004) for the single-season scoring record in the short three-season history of the program.
The DCTC women hold a 6-8-2 overall record and complete the regular season with games at Scott Community in Davenport, Iowa (Oct. 20) and at Marshalltown, Iowa (Oct. 22).
The DCTC men (9-6-1 overall) play three more regular season games in Iowa this week – North Iowa in Mason City (Oct. 19); Scott Community in Davenport (Oct. 20) and at Marshalltown (Oct. 22).
Playoffs for the NJCAA Region XI begin Oct. 26. DCTC holds a 2-5-0 league record and is expected to finish between third and sixth place, depending on results of their last three games. The Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (of which DCTC is a member) is a six-team men’s soccer league. The women are virtually assured of a third-place finish out of four in the ICCAC women’s league.
For more information on Blue Knights soccer and the college’s athletic program, contact Stoltz at (651) 423-8462 or visit www.goblueknights.com
