The Northeast Texas Community College Men?s and Women?s Soccer teams are boasting record-breaking seasons this year under the direction of the new coaching staff. With the regular season approaching its end, the men?s team currently stands at 12 wins and six losses, earning them one of the top three spots in the region. This makes them eligible for the playoffs, with the potential to break into the top 20 nationally.
The women?s team currently stands at six wins and 10 losses. Both teams play in what head soccer coach Donavan Dowling calls "the toughest conference in the country.?
The men began their season with a victory against East Texas Baptist University (ETBU) in an exhibition match before losing to Richland and Ranger College in early Sept. They claimed their first regular season victory against Hill College on Sept.10 and dominated the field against Southwest Adventist University (SAU) on Sept. 14 in a 9-0 victory.
They played their first Conference game at their home field against Jacksonville College and squeezed out a 3-2 victory before losing to Tyler Junior College on Sept. 21. Revenge was exacted against Hill College on Sept. 24 with a 4-0 win before losing to San Jacinto College South less than a week later. The men walked away from the following nine games between Sept. 28 and Oct. 18 with eight wins, only suffering one loss to Tyler Junior College on Oct. 11. They lost their latest game against rivals San Jacinto College South 3-0 on Saturday, Oct. 19.
The women began their season with an exhibition loss to ETBU on Aug. 23. Their first regular season game also saw their first victory against Eastfield College on Aug. 31, before being defeated at Navarro, Ranger, and Hill College Sept. 3-10. †They broke out of their losing streak with a crushing 8-0 win against SAU on Sept. 14.
The women lost to Jacksonville College on Sept. 20 before emerging victorious against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College the following day. They lost to Tyler Junior College on Sept. 24 before securing three more wins against Ranger College, SAU, and Wiley College Oct. 1-6. The women lost the following five games, which has knocked them out of the running for a postseason schedule.
Gabriel Cavalcante leads the men's team in goals and assists, followed closely by Rimario Gordon, both fist-year students. First-year goalkeeper Todd Lewis has logged more than 20 hours in play and executed 46 saves versus 23 goals against, keeping the goal for ten out of the team's 12 winning games.
On the women's team Adreanna Hurts leads the team in goals followed by Nathalia Lomax, both first year students. Freshman Imelda Pina leads the team in assists. Freshman goalkeeper Aliyah Revely has performed 110 saves versus 47 goals against and logged 24 hours in play.
Both teams have made great strides since last year, solidly obliterating their previous records. The women's team was 0-17 last year, and the men finished the 2012 season with six wins.
"Both of the programs have pretty well shattered their previous school records so far this year," said Dowling, who credits a more aggressive and comprehensive recruiting philosophy with attracting more talented individuals.†There are six countries represented on the men's team and three on the women's.
"Before, everybody was local, and we still have a good base of local players, but we have tried to broaden our horizons and recruit young people from around the country and the world, which you have to do to compete in our region." Dowling said.
The Women play their last game of the season Wednesday Oct. 23 at 12:00p.m. on the NTCC soccer field.
The Men play their final regular season game on Oct. 23 at 2:00 p.m. following the women's team, and they will host one of two Region 14 Championship games at the NTCC soccer field on Tuesday Oct. 29 at 3:00 p.m.
