Both TJC Soccer Teams Earn National Berths

November 7, 2011

PERKINSTON, Miss. — The Tyler Junior College soccer teams will both be going to nationals for the third straight year.

TJC traveled to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and defeated both Bulldog teams to capture district championships on Friday night.

The third-ranked Apaches (17-1-2) will vie for their third straight national title after blanking Gulf Coast, 5-0, for the South District title. It is TJC’s 15th shutout of the season.

The top-ranked Apache Ladies (21-0), who fell in the national final last year, defeated Gulf Coast 4-1 for the District E crown.

The Apache Ladies had a 1-0 lead at halftime. Katie Miller, a sophomore from Mineola, put TJC up 2-0 with 40 minutes left in the second half off an assist from Jahmela Williams.

April Goodman made it 3-0 with 14 minutes left with an assist from Christa Robinson. Gulf Coast scored with 10 minutes to play and then Cayla Cortez found the back of the net with Bianca Norman assisting. That made it 4-1 with four minutes left.

The TJC men started slow but still managed to lead 3-0 at the break. Sammy Dieng broke the ice with 17 minutes left in the half and Junior Spinks had the assist.

Alan Rovira scored unassisted eight minutes later to make it 2-0, and Oneal Fisher converted a goal in the final minute of the half off an assist by Anis Abdulgasem.

“I was pleased we finished some goals,” TJC coach Steve Clements said. “It was a clean night. We were a little tentative at first and then we settled into the game. We started getting a few combinations together and scored a few goals.”

Starting goalkeeper Chris McGaughey exited the match with about 20 minutes on the clock with a clean sheet.

The Apaches had 16 shots on goal and allowed five. TJC won in corner kicks, 8-3.

“(TJC’s defense) just kept their front line shut down all night long,” Clements said. “Our defense has played well all season. We always preach defense at Tyler.”

Spinks (unassisted) and Jose France (Iko De Oliveira) added goals in the second half.

The NJCAA national tournaments will be Nov. 17-20 in Melbourne, Fla. (women) and Phoenix (men).