Both Blue Knights squads face nationally ranked IWCC teams in semifinals
Blue Knights Soccer 2011
The women and men’s soccer teams at Dakota County Technical College advanced in the NJCAA Division I Region 11 Tournament. Both teams face top-ranked Iowa Western Community College teams in the semifinals.
DCTC Men’s Soccer
Blue Knights Men's Soccer 2011
The Blue Knights men battled past the Marshalltown Community College Tigers (12–5–1), winning 3–2 in the first round of the NJCAA DI Region 11 playoffs Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, in Marshalltown, Iowa. After a scoreless first half, DCTC (11–7–1) came back from a 0–2 deficit in the second half and won the game in the second 10-minute overtime on a goal by freshman forward, Stephen Ibañez. At the time of the game, the Tigers were ranked 20th in the nation on the latest NJCAA DI men’s soccer poll.
“I have to give full credit to our players,” said Head Coach Cam Stoltz. “Even though we were down two zip right away in the second half of an elimination game, we kept driving and running and our output improved. We are a very fast team and we eventually wore down their defenders.”
Stoltz reported that the Knights continued playing offensively in OT, but the strategy almost cost them the game. “We got into a spell in the second overtime where we bunkered up and Marshalltown really shelled us. But we defended the penalty box well and held them off. Our conditioning paid off.”
The game ended when DCTC freshman fullback, Sergio Garcia, threw the ball in 40 yards upfield to freshman forward, Emmanuel Giddings, who was sprinting full out down the sideline. Giddings crossed the ball to Ibañez in front of the MCC goal. Ibañez one-timed a blast low under the Tiger goalkeeper for the win.
Stephen Ibañez
The Knights next face the Iowa Western Community College Reivers (15–1–1) in the Region 11 semifinals Saturday, Oct. 29, at the Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines, Iowa.
“Iowa Western is ranked fifth in the nation,” said Coach Stoltz. “They have an excellent program and a ton of depth. This is a must-win for us and we’ll bring our best game.”
DCTC Women’s Soccer
Blue Knights Women's Soccer 2011
The Blue Knights women rolled past the Eastern Iowa Community College Eagles (5–10–2) 4–1 Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011, in Bettendorf, Iowa, in the first round of the NJCAA DI playoffs. The game was a rematch, the Knights having beaten EICC 4–0 earlier in the season.
“We came to this game with a different team,” said Coach Stoltz. “We had lost three players for the season, freshman forward, Ainslie Brodie, to an ACL, freshman fullback, Erin Randall, to a concussion, and freshman goalkeeper, Mallory Joachim, to a sprained back. But we knew the field was going to be slow and choppy, and we knew Eastern Iowa’s strengths. We played our game and came away with a win.”
Sophomore Forward Katia Galvan had two goals and two assists in the game against EICC. Galvan has 23 goals and seven assists for the season.
“Katia is one of the best all-around players in the country,” Stoltz said. “She is always the smartest player on the field.”
Katia Galvan
The Knights face the Iowa Western Community College Reivers (12–3–0) in the Region 11 semifinals Saturday, Oct. 29, at the Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines, Iowa. The Reivers are ranked 6th in the nation on the latest NJCAA DI women’s soccer poll.
“The women have never beaten Iowa Western in the history of our program,” said Coach Stoltz. “We will have to play our very best to win. I every confidence in our team that we can do just that.”
Blue Knights soccer teams at Saint Louis Zoo | October 2011
