GEARING UP

Date:

No. 14 Roadrunner Soccer Team Opens Post-Season on Saturday

For most of the season, the Angelina College men’s soccer team has been embedded within the top 20 in the national rankings, finishing at No. 14 in Monday’s final regular-season polls.

            The Roadrunners have racked up a program-high 12 wins against just three losses, and they’ve outscored opponents by a 40-25 margin.

            Now comes the hard part.

            AC’s men will open post-season play on Saturday – the first time an AC men’s soccer team has hosted a playoff match – in the opening round of the Region XIV Conference Tournament. Saturday’s first-round opponent will be the Eagles from Northeast Texas Community College, a team the ‘Runners swept in the season series, with both wins coming by identical 4-1 final scores.

            Leading the AC charge will be freshman Juan Lopez, who leads the team with 13 goals scored. In a testament to the team’s balance, 12 other Roadrunners have found the nets throughout the season, with Andre Aguirre tallying four and Jamie Rinquest three.

            And as proof of the team’s defensive prowess, the ‘Runners have not allowed more than three goals in a match all season. Goalkeepers Jorge Gonzalez and Uche Santschi have teamed up to keep opposing scorers’ numbers low, with big help from a strong defensive presence.

            Overall, the team’s combination of speed and depth has been the key. Head coach Nataki Stewart keeps a steady rotation of fresh players on the pitch, and their quickness has been a factor in wearing down opponents over the full 90 minutes.

            NTCC’s Eagles (4-11) have reeled off three straight wins, including a 2-1 win on Saturday over previously ranked Coastal Bend Community College.

            Saturday’s match between the Roadrunners and Eagles will kick off at 6 p.m. at Jase Magers Field on the Lufkin High School campus.

Gary Stallard
Sports Information Director Gary Stallard, who also serves as a Liberal Arts Instructor, begins his eleventh season with Angelina College. Following a career as a U.S. Marine, Stallard completed his bachelor’s degree at Stephen F. Austin University, where he majored in English and Journalism. For more than 16 years, he has worked as a sports writer/columnist/photographer for the Lufkin Daily News; he continues to contribute free-lance articles on occasion. Stallard has won several awards for writing, including the Golden Hoops Award for basketball writing in 2003, Regional Sports Writer of the Year in 2004, and the Texas Press Association’s first-place award for column writing in 2007 and in 2014. He has also done basketball, football and baseball radio and live streaming play-by- play and color commentary for an ESPN affiliate. Currently Stallard serves as play-by-play broadcaster for AC basketball, baseball and softball games. Prior to arriving at Angelina College, Stallard taught English at Lufkin High School for four years. He currently teaches Developmental Writing classes at AC. He and his wife Susan live in Lufkin.

Share post:

Subscribe

Popular

More like this
Related

Texas A&M School of Nursing Wins Collaborative $2.28 Million Grant Addressing Maternal Mortality, Morbidity

CHAMPions will support new mothers in underserved areas with...

Minor Sting Operation

In an effort to decrease the dangers and consequences...

Angelina College Athletics Weekly Update

This week in AC Athletics featured plenty of action...

A Permanent Seat to the Game

Roadrunner Baseball Pays Tribute to Former Manager RayburnA Permanent...