The Garden City Telegram
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GCCC soccer moves along
Published 10/2/2008 in None : Columns
Steve Gorton was anxious, and a little nervous.
It was Sept. 9, and the Garden City Community College men's soccer team was in new territory. For the first time in the program's four-year existence, the Broncbusters were ranked. A first game 2-0 win against No. 4 San Jacinto (Texas) and back-to-back blowout victories against two other tough non-conference teams, Blue River (Mo.) and Lincoln College (Ill.), propelled them into the poll.
It wasn't just any ranking, though, as the Busters were inserted at No. 10. A spot reserved for the elite of the elite. Gorton, the Busters' second-year head coach who has been in the program since its beginning (the first two as an assistant under Jeff Huffman), didn't know how his team would respond. Like any coach he hoped for the best. He wanted to believe this team -- a group he has spoken so highly of since Day 1 of practice -- could handle that pressure of being ranked. The only thing, though, was from that Tuesday in September the Busters were ranked, he would have to wait six days to see just how they would respond. Not only was the day for Garden City just under a week from its next game, but it was eight days since the Busters had seen any competition. It is a long wait in a college game like soccer, unlike football where its the norm to have a week's preparation. Sit too long and wait in soccer and things become stale. Players and coaches become restless to get back out into the world of competition.
"To be honest, it was not one of the best weeks of practice," Gorton would say a day after the Busters played their first game in eight days on Sept. 15. "I had to get on them to pick it up."
Whatever worries or feeling of being nervous the Busters' head coach had going into their road game at Kansas City, Kansas, the team wiped it away early scoring five goals in the first 30 minutes. The game was an 8-1 breeze and Gorton could give a sigh of relief. It was just one game in a conference-heavy schedule ahead, but it was a defining moment. The victory, if anything, was a little assurance from a team Gorton had said about before the San Jacinto upset, "You don't have to be a genius to know this team is going to win a lot of games." He was right and to that point when Garden City routed KCK on its home field, the Busters had proven it.
The only thing from there the Busters needed was to continue the success they started. Fast forward three wins, one loss and one tie to today, and the Busters have continued their success. Garden City tied Jayhawk Conference rival No. 4 Barton County on its home turf 0-0. The only hiccup was a 3-2 overtime loss to Johnson County on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Garden City was without forward Fedarico Argreda and defender Mariano Leo, who both received red cards in the Barton game. Steve Shaw, one of the Busters more experienced players and leading scorers, was also out for almost the entire game as he went down in the first five minutes with a separated shoulder injury. The Busters didn't wilt. Monday, the team bounced back by knocking off then No. 14 Northern Oklahoma 2-1. Again they were without Argreda and Leo, each serving the final game of the two-game suspension for the red card. Shaw sat out, watching with a sling on his arm. Gorton will have Agreda and Leo back when Garden City hosts Neosho at 1 p.m. Saturday. Shaw may or may not play, but he is expected back soon.
The thing is, at 8-1-1, the Busters are an exciting team, and the only thing that lies ahead is what they make of it.
And at this point, things are looking good.
Assistant Sports Editor Mike Kessinger can be reached at mkessinger@gctelegram.com
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