Box Score FARMERS BRANCH, Texas – The Dallas Christian College men's soccer team avenged an earlier setback at Ecclesia College and shook off a couple rough weeks by prevailing 3-1 in the Non Dual Affiliate Game (NDAG) Division I Regional Championship on Monday.
This match was decided offensively by Diego Rodas, who registered another hat trick against the Royals. The difference this time was Ecclesia's top scorer, Jorge Zamarron only netted one goal instead his hat trick in the regular season matchup. Although, Zamarron did have the first goal in this contest, it was quickly equalized by Rodas and two more goals were all the Crusaders needed.
Senior and captain defender Fernando Vaquera described the team's ability to come back quickly a crucial component to their success on the pitch. "It was a good thing we got that penalty over there, Vaquera reflected. "The team's attitude just went up from there and just started putting in the goals."
Each side did produce 20 shots with Ecclesia tallying a 13-8 edge in the second half. Alexy Tobias picked up nine saves and the DCC defense was able to contain the Royals push to keep their season alive in the last 45 minutes.
"It was challenging," Tobias stated. "Made a couple of saves and made some tough choices I had to make. At the end of the day we came out strong and took the win."
Dallas Christian improved to 7-3 overall and finished its year unbeaten at the friendly confines.
The home team launched the first two shots and was winning the possession game from the outset, but it was Zamarron for Ecclesia that netted the first goal in the ninth minute as he broke through a tackle and beat the DCC keeper Tobias on the left side of the goal.
The Crusaders answered back a minute later as Rodas was fouled inside the box on the far left edge to be awarded the penalty kick. Rodas converted and was on his way to a big game with his sixth multi-goal effort this fall. The freshman out of Savannah, Texas, came through in the 18th minute with the go-ahead goal from the left side of the box and finished with his left. In the last minute of the half, Rodas notched his and the team's third score and to give the Crusaders a 3-1 advantage. Rodas now has increased his total goals to a team-high 16.
"We knew if they scored on us first, we had to come back stronger and better and tighten it up," Tobias remarked. "At the end we have to make sure we play as a team and come out and score."
As mentioned already, the Royals battled in the second frame with an edge on shots and also earned five of their six corner kicks in the match. The foul count ended up even too, as all six DCC fouls were called in the second half. The first three shots were taken by Ecclesia with less than two minutes gone by. Luckily only one was on target and Tobias contained it.
Tobias was solid leading the defensive effort in goal with his 10th start this season. When the keeper was asked about his performance cited, "Pray to God to keep me in safe hands. Everything that came at me was difficult to stop at times but I came through and made saves and that's what matters."
The Crusaders countered looking to add to the advantage, as Rodas added to his game-high 10 shots. Desire Mukandama and Kevin Zarrazagas each had three shots, and Mukandama nearly had a header that got past the Ecclesia goalkeeper but the only thing to stop the ball was the left post.
The Royals had poor luck too, as they appeared to have knocked a strike in goal to slice the deficit to one in the 71st minute. However, the officials deemed the team offside and the goal was waved off. The Royals were offside three times, but the Crusaders got whistled five times for being too eager.
"Every shot they took at me was a good shot and had to be prepared and not to be afraid to go at the ball," Tobias concluded.
Zamarron took six shots to lead the squad, while Manny Tellez and Fernando Barroso added three apiece. The Royals outdid DCC 10-9 on shots on goal. Eduardo De La Torre made six saves, including both in the second half to keep the margin at two.
"We knew it was going to be a tough game," Kevin Zarrazagas mentioned after playing an opponent recently and having the hard result. "Taking control of the game and having the ball" were keys the freshman from Brownsville, Texas, said. "It is time to get ready for nationals."
The Crusaders advance to the NCCAA Division I Men's Soccer National Championship hosted at Austin-Tindall Sports Complex located in Kissimee, Florida, a week from today on November 16. Their opponent and start time are still to be determined.
"We knew this was an important game at the end of the day," Vaquera emphasized. "I am a senior, so this would have been my last game. Thank God we were able to push through it and we got our ticket to nationals."
