San Jacinto men’s soccer second-seed at NJCAA tournament

Amanda Booren - 11/14/2008 The San Jacinto College men’s soccer team is the number two seed in next week’s NJCAA national tournament in Phoenix, Arizona.

HOUSTON – The San Jacinto College men’s soccer team is the second seed in next week’s National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) men’s soccer championship, hosted by Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix, Arizona, November 20-23.

San Jac (16-1-2) will face seventh-seed South Suburban College of Illinois (20-2) at 11 a.m., on Thursday, November 20. San Jac won the Region XIV title two weeks ago, and followed that up with a Mid-South District championship this past weekend to earn its second-consecutive berth in the NJCAA national tournament.

"Qualifying for nationals this year has been one of the most satisfying of the four times in my career,” noted fifth-year head coach Dr. David Santesteban. “We battled so many obstacles this year – the weather, Hurricane Ike, the fact that we had 21 new players, and injuries. This team just keeps finding a way to win, and I believe we have yet to reach our full potential."

San Jac is led by freshman Mozesh Gyorio (Stratford, Canada / Charlottetown HS) who has accumulated 24 points this season behind a team-leading 10 goals and four assists. Fellow classmate Gilbert Barahona (Saticoy, California / Central Catholic HS) has also scored 10 goals this season, and has three assists.

Sophomore goalkeeper Gabriel Rodriguez (Guatemala City, Mexico / InterAmerican HS) has been sensational in the net for San Jac, recording 29 saves in eight games. He owns a .394 goals against average.

Other tournament qualifiers include top-seed, and defending national champion, Yavapai College (Arizona), No. 3 Mercer County Community College (New Jersey), No. 4 Garden City Community College (Kansas), fifth-seed Georgia Perimeter, sixth-seed Community College of Baltimore County-Essex (Maryland), and No. 8 Schoolcraft College (Michigan).

Concluded Santesteban, "Soccer is a funny game, and at this point in the season, one can never take anything for granted. We’re training very well right now and hope to bring one home for the College this time. Regardless of how we do, it is always an honor and humbling experience to represent our college and city."

Complete NJCAA men’s soccer tournament information can be found at http://www.pvc.maricopa.edu/njcaa/.

For more information about San Jacinto College men's soccer, please visit www.sanjacsports.com.