The Garden City Telegram
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GCCC advances to national tournament with 1-0 win
Published 11/10/2008 in Sports : GCCC
By MIKE KESSINGER
All season the Garden City Community College men’s soccer team has had one united goal — make it to nationals.
In front of their home crowd Saturday night, the Broncbusters did just that knocking off No. 3-ranked Jefferson (Mo.) College 1-0 in the title game of the Great Plains District Championships at Memorial Stadium.
“It’s a dream come true,” GCCC sophomore forward Steve Shaw said. “It’s amazing.”
As a team that has gone through a memorable run this season, finishing the regular season with just one loss, then knocking off rival Barton County in a penalty kick shootout a week ago in the Region VI championship, the Busters reached another plateau Saturday. The win qualifies Garden City (18-1-1) for its first national tournament in its four years of existence. When time ran out Saturday, the Broncbusters bench ran out to the middle of the field, joining the rest of the team, as Jefferson sat on the sideline watching the celebration.
“Our whole concept this year has just been about family,” GCCC goalkeeper Chris Raines said. “Every game it’s just about family and working our hardest. Sitting back there and watching... I was just so nervous. One play can change the whole game.”
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Brad Nading/Telegram — Members of the Garden City Community College men's soccer team celebrate defeating Jefferson (Mo.) College 1-0 Saturday at Memorial Satdium, claiming the Great Plains District soccer championship and a trip to the national tournament.
It was just one play Garden City needed against Jefferson. The No. 5 Busters had their offensive pressure going strong in the opening minutes of the game and the Vikings avoided a goal deficit when a Fedarico Agreda shot from 15 yards out sailed just over the top of the goal. It wouldn’t take the Busters long to be on the offensive again, and the Busters second shot didn’t miss. Midfielder D.J. Zuniga took a cross from Shaw and with a sliding kick that hit off the top cross bar bounced into the net in the eighth minute of the first half.
“Our confidence boosted up,” Zuniga said of the teams reaction to the goal. “After that goal we kept on going down, attacking, trying to score. The one goal gave us the win so I’m proud of that.”
On a night that could have turned into a rout, the Busters were just glad to get off the field with a win. In the second half, three shots by Shaw bounced off the left goal bar or cross bar. With 14 minutes left Shaw took a high shot that Jefferson goalkeeper Quinn Martin blocked straight up into the cross bar and looked like it may have bounced into the goal as Martin grabbed it. Shaw and many of his teammates raised their hands in celebration, but no whistle was blown and play continued.
“I saw the net move and I thought it hit — and they kept playing it,” Shaw said. “At the end of the game it could have been 5-0 if I didn’t miss four times.”
Shaw’s chances weren’t the Busters only missed opportunities. Thirteen minutes into the second half, the Busters were on a charge, and Shaw made a sliding pass to Daniel Martinez who drilled a shot past Martin, but offsides was called. With 22:45 to go Agreda knocked a bicycle kick just left of the goal.
Defensively, the Busters prevented Jefferson from gaining much momentum. When the Viking were to get within 20 yards, the Garden City backs and Raines stopped much of the progression. With 8:30 left, Raines, who finished with six saves, made a diving save of a Jesus Jimenez line drive about 15 yards out. He then knocked a John Hanney kick out to the right on an attack straight down the middle of the field with four minutes left.
“I just had to make sure everybody’s marked,” Raines said. “When they’re charging like that you just want to make sure their forwards have someone on them. If they don’t they’ll get a shot off and that’s what happened. I think we did a really good job of (keeping them marked) today.”
Garden City outshot the Vikings 16-11. Twice Jefferson was given a yellow card as defender Joseph Demosthene was given one in the first half, and midfielder Kenley Mathurin was given a yellow card with 2:30 left in the game.
As Garden City students and player families joined the team minutes after the game, the Busters rallied to the middle of the field where GCCC athletic director Bob Larson stood with the district trophy. The team circled around Larson and celebrated one final time.
“It feels great, we’re district and regional champions,” Zuniga said. “We knew it was going to be a tough game. We came out here with the intensity we wanted in this game. We came out with a lot of heart, and now we’re ready to go to nationals to represent Garden City.”
——————Garden City 1, Jefferson (Mo.) College 0
Jefferson 0 0 — 0
GCCC 1 0 — 1
First half
GCCC — Zuniga (Shaw assist), 37:40
Shots — Jefferson 11, GCCC 16. Corner kicks — Jefferson 8, GCCC 1. Goalkeepers — Jefferson, Martin (2 saves); GCCC, Raines (6 saves). Yellow cards — Jefferson, Demosthene, Mathurin.
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