KICK START: TJC SOCCER TEAMS BEGIN NATIONAL TOURNAMENT WITH BIG WINS
Both Tyler Junior College soccer teams began defense of their national championships with big victories on Monday.
The No. 1 seed Apache Ladies scored a 4-0 victory over No. 12 Moraine Valley (Illinois) at Foley Sports Complex in Foley, Alabama.
About an hour later, the No. 2 seed Apaches defeated No. 11 Baltimore County-Essex (Maryland), 5-1, at Daytona State Soccer Stadium in Daytona Beach, Florida.
APACHE LADIES
Corey Rose's squad won their 12th consecutive match to go to 21-1-1 on the season. The Cyclones fell to 20-2-1.
Nikol Gonzalez scored two goals to help the Apache Ladies to a 3-0 halftime lead in the Pool A contest. Both goals were assisted by Anakaren Gonzalez.
Marta Estupinan scored the first goal (unassisted).
Jaia Riggan netted the final goal in the second half and it was unassisted.
Andrea Neves was in goal for the clean sheet.
TJC had nine shots on goal to the Cyclones' one.
The Apache defenders — starters Estupinan, Priscilla Rincon, Bianca Roman, Nikol Gonzalez and Maria De La Fuente — kept Moraine Valley in check.
Starting midfielders were Hitomi, Akane Takada, Shaylee Anaya and Maria De La Fuente. The starting forwards were Patricia Estupinan and Riggan.
Others playing were defenders Chrysanthi Voli, Adamarie Moreno, Alicia Salgado, Lauren Loza and Anakaren Gonzalez; midfielders Cherish Clemmons, Alyssa Wind, Ariana Sifuentes, Selma DeLuna and Brianna Brown; and forwards Jullia Trabach and Debora Maciel.
TJC has an off day on Tuesday before meeting No. 8 seed Monroe Community College of New York at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Moraine Valley will take on Monroe CC at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Winners of each pool advance to the national semifinals scheduled for Friday.
In other matches on Monday: Pool B, No. 2 Monroe (New York) College defeated No. 11 Butler (Kansas), 1-0, in overtime; Pool C, No. 3 Iowa Western won over No. 10 Paradise Valley (Arizona), 5-1; and Pool D, No. 9 Laramie County (Wyoming) upset No. 4 Arizona Western, 3-1.
Other matches on Tuesday include: No. 11 Butler vs. No. 7 Lewis & Clark (Illinois), 12:30 p.m.; No. 6 Navarro College vs. No. 10 Paradise Valley, 3 p.m.; and No. 9 Laramie County vs. No. 5 Eastern Florida State, 5:30 p.m.
APACHES
Steve Clements' team is looking for their third straight national title.
The Apaches won their sixth consecutive match to go to 19-2 on the season. The Knights fell to 12-6-2.
TJC took a 3-1 halftime lead as the Apaches had three unassisted goals — two by Jake Morris and one by Dylan Bufton.
The Knights' goal came from Hamza Iguidre off an assist from Jordan Fields.
Thaabit Baartman scored both of TJC's goals in the second half. One was unassisted while the second was assisted by Victor Cavillo.
Neil Strauber was in goal for the Apaches, making four saves.
Starting defenders were Musa Qongo, Yohannes Richardson, Morris and Jannik Videbaek. Starting midfielders were Jacob Daffern, Leon Karman, Habib Berry and Baartman. Bufton wa the foward with Dion Macfoy-Johnston the right wing.
Others who played were defenders Thomas Windle, Frieder Wagner, Josy Mar Gomez and Theofanis Lazarides; midfielders Rashawn Mackison and Daisuke Otsuka; RW Cheick Fofana, Leonardo Hernandez and Cavillo; and LW Sergio Saucedo.
TJC has an off day on Tuesday before meeting No. 7 seed Monroe College of New York at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
CCBC-Essex will take on Monroe College at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Winners of each pool advance to the national semifinals scheduled for Friday.
In other matches on Monday: Pool A, No. 1 Pima (Arizona) defeated No. 12 Muskegon (Michigan), 5-0; Pool C, No. 3 Barton (Kansas) won over No. 10 St. Louis (Missouri), 3-0; and Pool D, No. 4 Marshalltown (Iowa) downed No. 9 Cowley (Kansas), 2-0.
Other matches on Tuesday include: Muskegon vs. No. 8 Northeast Texas, 8:30 a.m.; No. 10 St. Louis vs. No. 6 Georgia Military, 1:30 p.m.; and No. 5 Eastern Florida State vs. No. 9 Cowley, 4 p.m.