BLINN MEN’S SOCCER GETS SWEEP OVER COASTAL BEND
Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information
The 14th-ranked Blinn College men's soccer team made program history when it defeated Coastal Bend College on Sept. 23.
On Friday, the Buccaneers added another page to their history book.
Blinn scored two second-half goals to outlast the 18th-ranked Cougars 3-2 in a thrilling Region 14 showdown at Rankin Field in Brenham, Texas.
Last month, the Bucs defeated Coastal Bend on the road for the first time, but Blinn (8-2-1 overall, 6-2 Region 14) upped the ante in the teams' second meeting this season by securing its first season sweep of the Cougars. Blinn also further cemented its spot atop the Region 14 South division standings.
"This victory represents a significant achievement on a pivotal evening for our team," Bucs head coach Michael McBride said, "and while we experienced a suboptimal start where we were clearly outplayed in the early portion of the first half, the team's sustained intensity and exceptional work ethic proved to be the decisive factor in securing the win."
Freshman midfielder Jordan Franco's goal off a corner kick in the 81st minute made it a 3-1 Bucs lead and served as the decider in a tightly contested matchup. Sophomore midfielder/defender Joe Coyle and sophomore defender Alek Melo provided the assists on the game-winner.
Sophomore forward Alan Kocmoud Navarro got Blinn on the board in the 22nd minute with the help of freshman midfielder/defender Coltyn Hale and sophomore forward Cristian Estrada.
After taking a 1-0 lead into halftime, the Bucs gave themselves some breathing room when freshman midfielder Paolo Imeneo scored on a looping shot from the top of the box in the 49th minute.
Coastal Bend got on the board in the 66th minute and pulled within one in the 83rd.
The two teams finished with nine shots apiece. Blinn earned a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.
In his Bucs debut, freshman goalkeeper Samir Bristol made three saves to earn the win.
Next up for Blinn is a region home tilt against Texas Southmost College at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at Rankin Field.