Soccer Ramps Up for Regional Tourney

Men’s team starting to click; women looking for consistency

Blue Knights vs. Yellowjackets

Cam Stoltz, head coach of Dakota County Technical College’s women and men’s soccer teams, feels confident heading into the latter part of the 2011–2012 season. Hampered by inexperience and an inconsistent offense, the women have weaved together a tattered mid-season record, going 4–8–1, but their energy remains high as they approach the last five games of the regular season.

“We’ve got the talent on the women’s team to win games against our toughest opponents,” said Stoltz. “What we need is consistency. Playing as an independent has brought a dramatic change to the schedules for both our women and men’s squads. We are playing a much wider range of teams from new and different areas. In the long run, this strategy raises our soccer I.Q. and makes us much stronger and more prepared for the playoffs.”

Blue Knights vs. Yellowjackets

The women played the Rochester Community and Technical College Yellowjackets Wednesday, Sept. 28, at home at the Ames Soccer Complex, losing 2–3 in double overtime in a rough-and-tumble yet highly technical match.

“The women played a smart, tactical game and performed superbly against a very athletic RCTC team,” Stoltz said. “We worked hard to keep them out of the penalty box, and our goalkeeper, Noelia Carrillo, made at least twelve quality saves against probably the best Yellowjackets team we’ve ever faced. The game could have gone either way.”

Stoltz went on to say that the Blue Knights women are playing as designed with a lot of heart, but need to learn how to win big games.

Noelia Carrillo | Blue Knights Freshman Goalkeeper

The men have made good on a fresh start, building a respectable 7–4 record by winning six of their last eight games. Stoltz pointed out that the men’s team has only three returning sophomores from last year’s roster.

“The men are gaining momentum as they settle in as a team,” he said. “Their performance on the field improves with every game. We are really starting to click.”

Blue Knights vs. Golden Rams

Stoltz singled out one win that exemplifies how well the Blue Knights men can control the field of play, forcing their opponent to chase the ball and get tired. “We were on the road against Bismarck State College,” he said. “We had one hundred and eleven touches before they ever touched the ball. We ended up winning the game four zip.”

The men won their biggest game of the season so far by outplaying a previously undefeated Anoka-Ramsey Community College team, Sept. 28, at the Ames Soccer Complex. The Knights bulled past the Golden Rams, 2–1, scoring the first two goals of the game and thwarting a purposeful ARCC second-half offensive charge, including a last-second tying goal nullified by an off-sides call.

“Anoka-Ramsey beat us in our first match of the season so we saw this game as a huge challenge,” Stoltz said. “The two best two-year colleges in the state squared off and we came away with the win. This is a great new rivalry. Anoka attracts top players from the north metro while we cover the south. The Golden Rams are a topflight team and we look forward to playing them in the future.”

Blue Knights vs. Golden Rams

Stoltz also expressed concern for Golden Rams freshman goalkeeper, Joey Matesi, who was injured during the game and taken to the hospital. He contacted ARCC Head Soccer Coach Brady Eichhorn-Hicks to get an update on the player’s condition and send best wishes from the Blue Knights as well as from DCTC President Ron Thomas, who attended the game.

Blue Knights vs. Golden Rams

As the regular season winds down, the men are exceptionally healthy as a team, which means they can push harder heading into the playoffs. Both teams are scheduled for a four-day road trip near the end of the season that will conclude with a visit to St. Louis, Mo., and games versus the St. Louis Community College Archers. “This trip will get us ramped up for the NJCAA Region 11 Tournament,” Stoltz said. “It’s another way competing as independents is giving our players the experience they need to win big games against our best opponents.”

The Blue Knights women play next against the Iowa Lakes Community College Lakers Monday, Oct. 5, at 5 p.m. in Spirit Lake, Iowa. The men also play away at ILCC on the fifth. Game time is 7 p.m.

Player Spotlight

Katia Galvan

Katia Galvan

• Sophomore Midfielder
• Humboldt Senior High School
• Major: Individualized Studies
• NJCAA Region 11 All-Region Academic First Team | GPA: 3.69
• Blue Knights Women’s Team 2010 MVP
• 2010–2011 Season: An offensive firestorm, Galvan was 23rd nationally on the NJCAA DI list of top scorers, torching the opposition with 18 goals and 15 assists

“Katia is our playmaker and top scorer,” Coach Stoltz said. “She loves to share the ball with her teammates. She’s calm on the ball and a natural finisher from anywhere.”

Emmanuel Giddings

Emmanuel Giddings

• Freshman Forward
• Mahtomedi High School
• Major: Individualized Studies

“Emmanuel is always the fastest player on the field,” Coach Stoltz said. “In fact, we’ve never had a faster player in a Blue Knights jersey. He creates tremendous separation with defenders. They just can’t deal with his quickness, which gives us a lot more options offensively.”

Blue Knights vs. Yellowjackets Game Gallery

Blue Knights vs. Golden Rams Game Gallery

For more information about Blue Knights soccer, contact:

• Cam Stoltz
  Athletics Director & Men and Women’s Head Soccer Coach
  651-423-8462
• Nicole Meulemans
  Student Life Director
  651-423-8403

Or visit GoBlueKnights.com