On Saturday, Oct. 26, the Roughrider soccer team ended their 2013 season on the road against St. Charles Community College, after a 3-0 result in the Region 16 quarter finals game.
St. Charles’ first point appeared on the board five minutes into the game, after a corner kick. After scoring point number two going into the second half, the Cougars earned their final point 10 minutes into the second half.
“I suspect it’s been a long year with injuries, and that could have played a role,” said Brad Smith, head men’s soccer coach and physical education instructor.
Smith also stated that a 10-11 day layoff [no game play], because of the cancelation of the Oct. 19 game against Central Baptist, could have played a key role in the performance in the game.
“Bottom line was they were better than us that day and beat us,” said Smith, who serves as the Region 16 Soccer Chairman for the National Junior College Athletic Association.
“Most of us didn’t play 100 percent,” admitted Luis Martinez, sophomore #7. “Most of us I think played with heart and basically the sophomores gave it all. But I think we should have been way better than we should have expected.”
“We didn’t really come out ready to play and it was really upsetting,” said Will Krolman, freshman #22.
As reported in a previous issue of The Crowder Sentry, personal injuries to many of the athletes played a major role in the team’s quest for the playoff’s.
“I don’t think we’ve started the same 11 guys in the same positions twice all year,” admitted Smith.
“People that actually give it all, all the way, no matter what happened, we kept playing,” stated Martinez, a native of Carthage, Mo.
The Roughriders finish out the season with a record of 7-10-1, including a record of 1-5-1 in Region 16 play. The team scored a tie victory in overtime during a previous game at home against St. Charles, back on Sept. 21.
Post season awards were given to Facinet Camara, sophomore #10, who was named to the first team all-region 16 team, and Daniel Collins, freshman #14, who was named to the second team all-region 16 team.
For Krolman, a Joplin native, he is looking to improve on almost every aspect of this season, next season.
“We need to have a winning record and make it out of the first round of regionals,” said Krolman.
The next activity for the team will be the annual Thunderdome, which will be held March 14-15, 2014 in Bob Sneller Gymnasium. Times of games will be announced at a later date.
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