When two soccer teams battle through 110 minutes in 30 degree temperatures, it doesn’t seem right that a team must also suffer defeat.
Which is what happened Friday night when Kansas City Kansas Community College and Johnson County Community College fought through 90 minutes of regulation play and two 10-minute extra periods for a 1-1 tie,
The deadlock tightened KCKCC’s drive to clinch a playoff berth and kept the Blue Devils’ hopes alive at overtaking JCCC (4-1-2) for second place in the Jayhawk Conference with two games to go. The Blue Devils (4-3-1) play at Allen County Wednesday and at home Sunday against Coffeyville. Both contests have 4 p.m. kickoffs.
Meanwhile, JCCC (4-1-2) finishes its season against Neosho County (4-3), Coffeyville (0-8) and league-leading Cowley College (6-1-1) while Neosho plays Cowley, JCCC and Allen County (3-5). The top four finishers will advance to the Region VI playoffs against the top four finishers in the West.
KCKCC took a 1-0 lead 28 minutes into the JCCC game on an impressive goal by Alejandro Maillet, who took a pass from Leonardo Bonelli and sent a missile from 15 yards past the goalkeeper. The lead stood until early in the second half when the Cavaliers pulled even. Defensively, the Blue Devils were led by sophomore center back Ignacio Sarasol.
“Both teams had opportunities but looking at the video, I thought we probably had a few more,” KCKCC coach Ruben Rodriguez said. “We just have to figure out a way to finish better in we’re going to move ahead in the playoffs.”
