BLINN MEN’S SOCCER SHUTS OUT TEXAS SOUTHMOST 2-0
Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information
When the dust settled, the 27 shots that missed their mark meant little for the 12th-ranked Blinn College men’s soccer team.
What mattered most were the two that didn’t.
The Buccaneers tallied single goals in both halves and used a stout defensive effort to shut out Texas Southmost College for a 2-0 Region 14 victory Tuesday at Rankin Field in Brenham, Texas.
Blinn battled its way to a fourth consecutive victory while improving to 9-2-1 overall and 7-2 in the region’s South division. The Bucs are currently in first place in the division.
“Despite failing to convert a substantial number of high-quality chances, we were ultimately effective, scoring twice and demonstrating the necessary defensive discipline to protect the lead and secure the win,” said Blinn head coach Michael McBride, who won his 50th Region 14 match.
The Bucs spent a majority of the contest in the Scorpions’ third of the field, where they racked up chances while peppering the Southmost goal with 29 shots.
By game’s end, an 11th-minute goal from sophomore defender Alek Melo and an insurance score from freshman midfielder Jordan Franco proved more than enough for the surging Bucs.
After the Bucs offense endured a series of near misses early, Melo put his team on the board when he fielded a long cross through the box from sophomore forward/defender Kayde Gielinck and tapped a shot past the diving Scorpion goalkeeper. Freshman forward Shefe Odojukan also earned an assist on the play after his initial pass set up Gielinck for the final give.
“It was a tough game against a tough opponent, and we faced a lot of adversity today,” Melo said. “Things weren’t falling our way early, and we battled some issues with converting our opportunities, but at the end of the day if you don’t give up, you have a chance to be rewarded and that’s what happened for us today.”
After the intermission, Franco gave his team some breathing room when he converted a corner kick for the Bucs after he leapt through the air and sent a header into the back of the Southmost net. The goal was the 400th in Blinn men’s soccer history.
Freshman defender/forward Jesus Gonzalez was credited with the assist.
The Bucs earned an 11-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Blinn’s defense did the rest, as the Bucs held the Scorpions to just one shot in each of the two halves.
Freshman goalkeeper Samir Bristol made two saves and earned his second consecutive victory in as many starts.
Blinn’s season resumes with a home match against region rival and 12th-ranked Angelina College at 8 p.m. on Friday at Rankin Field.