BLINN MEN PLAY WESTERN TEXAS TO 2-2 TIE
Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information
The 19th-ranked Blinn College men’s soccer team shocked Western Texas College with a goal just 15 seconds into Friday night’s match.
The Westerners returned the favor with 24 seconds to go.
The Buccaneers took a lead in the match’s opening moments and appeared to have the winning goal in the final minute, but Western Texas answered twice – including an equalizer just before the final buzzer – as the teams settled for a 2-2 draw at Rankin Field in Brenham, Texas.
Blinn moved to 5-1-1 this season.
“To be honest, we simply weren’t good enough this evening,” Bucs head coach Michael McBride said. “We didn’t lose, but it definitely feels like a loss. The performance was far below the standards we expect, and we let ourselves down today.”
Blinn poured on the offense from start to finish, amassing 20 shots against 16 for the visitors. The Bucs also had six corner kicks.
Sophomore midfielder Sam Sebagabo started the match with a bang after he gathered a deflection in Western Texas’ third and lofted a successful shot over the outstretched arm of the Westerner goalkeeper. Sebagabo is Blinn's leading scorer this season with seven goals.
It remained a one-goal match until Western Texas knotted things up in the 83rd minute.
Five and a half minutes later, the fireworks began.
Freshman forward/defender Kayde Gielinck handed Blinn the lead again with 57 seconds remaining when he fielded an assist from sophomore defender Alek Melo inside the opposing box and pushed it into the net.
The lead was only temporary, however, as the Westerners moved swiftly into Blinn territory. From the left sideline, sophomore forward Johnny Cuellar crossed a shot high and over leaping Bucs keeper Noah LeMaster for the equalizer.
“Props to Western Texas; they hung around all game, and we didn’t do enough to put them away,” McBride added. “Western deserved something out of the game and they got something.”
LeMaster made four saves for Blinn.
The Bucs return to the pitch for a Region 14 road clash with No. 18 Angelina College at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16, in Lufkin, Texas.