Tyler Texas takes home the NJCAA trophy

Tyler Junior College Apache
men's soccer team won the National
Junior College Athletic
Association Division 1 Championship
Tournament. Although
Mercer did not qualify for the
championships, the school did
host the event. The final game
was played on November 22.
The Apaches beat the number
two Georgia Perimeter College
Jaguars in a 5-3 penalty shootout,
as regulation play and two
overtimes had resulted in 0-0
tie.

Goalie Juan Robles led the
Apaches to victory with five
saves, including one in the penalty
shoot-out, despite the Jaguars'
disparate offensive play,
out-shooting the Apaches 8-2.
In an interview with the Tyler
Morning Telegraph, Apache
coach Steve Clements said of
his sophomore goalie's play,
"he had a great day," adding
"Georgia Perimeter really took
it to us in the first half. We were
lucky to survive."

In fact, the Jaguars maintained
possession of the ball
through most of the game, playing
largely in their offensive
zone. Despite their advantage in
time of possession and the ejection
of Apache midfielder Harry
Machacha with 8:42 remaining
in the second half for a second
yellow card, the Jaguars were
unable to convert. Jaguar coach
Marc Zagara was dismayed that
his team could not capitalize
on the player advantage, saying
"we had good chances, we
just couldn't finish it." Apaches
forward Dom Dwyer was able
to maintain possession of the
ball in his offensive zone as
the second half drew to a close,
preventing the Jaguars from becoming
too dangerous with the
extra man.

Coach Clements credits
his defense's grit and resilience
with keeping the Jaguars
off the scoreboard, saying "defensively
we stepped up and
did our job to hold them out."
In the second half, the Apache
defense was better organized,
holding off standout Jaguar
midfielder Kingsley Morgan,
who volleyed a cross from the
right flank in the thirty-second
minute. Morgan was hassled by
Apache defenders who charged
him twice in the game, knocking
him down.

After exchanging goals
on the first four penalty kicks,
Apache player Andy Brooks
hit the mark, taking the score
from 2-2 to 3-2. The following
penalty was saved by Apache
goalie Robles, who denied the
draw to the Jaguars. Then the
Apaches scored again, making
it 4-2, but Jaguar player Davian
Davis kept Georgia Perimeter's
chances alive by scoring on his
opportunity 4-3. Finally, it was
the Apaches' freshman Martin
Seiler who scored the last and
winning penalty kick, clinching
the championship for his team.

In celebration, Apache players
jumped on the field and
posed for pictures, joined in
their elation by the Apaches faithful
in the crowd. The Jaguars,
meanwhile, looked on in
disbelief, as this was their first
loss decided by penalties in the
national championship game in
three years.

The tournament's podium
also included third-place
Schoolcraft College (Mich.)
beating Louisburg College
(N.C.) 3-1, and Yavapai College
(Ariz.) and Essex County College
(N.J.) playing to a 1-1 draw
in a consolation game.