October 1, 2009

Tiger soccer team picks up first win

Scoring less than two minutes into Wednesday’s game at Northeastern Oklahoma, the Cowley College men’s soccer team gained some much needed confidence and never let up as they went on to earn its first win of the season by a score of 5-2.

“This win is a huge boost for our confidence and morale,” Cowley head coach Roberto Dos Santos said. “This reinsures the players that the work we are doing is right and that we need to keep working hard.”

Cowley benefited from a foul inside the box on Walisson Gomes with just 1:33 gone in the first half. Sophomore Joao Bacchi took the penalty kick and scored as the ball caromed off the goal post.
“It was a big relief being able to start out the game like that,” Dos Santos said.

Bacchi would add another goal with 3:32 left in the first half to put the Tigers ahead 2-0. Bacchi now has three goals on the season.

Nathan Modesto’s first goal of the season increased Cowley’s lead to 3-0 with 13:33 gone by in the second half. Freshman Walisson Gomes would make the score 4-0 in favor of the Tigers as he scored off a penalty kick with just under 20 minutes left to play.

“Walisson is always a threat in the box because of his size,” Dos Santos said. “Him getting fouled twice in the box was huge for us.”

After Northeastern Oklahoma scored two goals to cut Cowley’s lead to 4-2 with 5:13 remaining, Gomes iced the game by scoring his third goal of the season with 1:09 showing on the clock.

After scoring only five goals in its previous five games, Cowley was able to equal that output in Wednesday’s win.

“It was a situation where we were able to capitalize on our opportunities this time,” Dos Santos said.

Modesto and Bacchi added assists in the win, as did freshman Matheus Daniel.

“Matheus has been a key player for us and has been solid (playing) in the back,” Dos Santos said.

Cowley, which is now 1-5-1 on the season, will be back in action Saturday when they host Kansas City at 4 p.m. In an unusual scheduling quirk, the Tiger men will play before the Lady Tigers take on Butler Community College at 6 p.m.

Kansas City is 7-3-1 overall and 4-0-1 in the Jayhawk Conference.

“Kansas City is a good team, but I believe with what we have shown it will be a good match,” Dos Santos said.