A late-game goal was the difference for the Eagles Tuesday as Northeast Texas Community College opened the fall 2012 season with a road win at Ranger College.
Tied 1-1 in the final minutes of the contest, the Eagles? Miguel Almazan scored from short distance with less that five minutes to play in what would turn out to be a 2-1 NTCC victory.
?We played a strong game with high pressure and good intensity and it was enough to get us a win,? Eagles? assistant coach Desmond Barron said. We wanted to come out and play a physical game and that is exactly what we were able to do.?
The Eagles took a lead early in the contest as Carlos Sanchez set up for a cross but wound up striking the side of the ball, sending it soaring past the Ranger keeper from 30 yards out. The goal came less than two minutes into the contest.
?It didn?t go exactly the way we would have drawn it up, but we will take goals however we can get them,? Barron said.
Ranger was able to tie the game at one in the game?s 30th†minute, converting a free kick to tie the game at one.
Almazan?s last-minute heroics were enough move the Eagles to 1-0 on the young season.
?Getting a win in our opening game is a real confidence builder for us,? Barron said. ?These players have put in a lot of work during our preseason the last two weeks and they deserved to get this win.?
The Lady Eagles soccer team was not as fortunate, though, as they fell to the Lady Rangers 0-4.
?We played strong for the whole game, we just have a lot of things to work on right now,? Barron said about the loss. ?We are still putting the women?s team together and it was our first real game together. It takes time to build a team from the ground up.?
The Lady Eagles will be back in action Saturday as they host Eastfield College at 2p.m.
The Eagles will play again Sept. 7 as they travel to face Coastal Bend College in a conference matchup at Beeville.
August 30, 2012
