Tyler hands Seminole State first loss in Pool C opener
Just as they have done most of the season, the Tyler Junior College women’s soccer team got off to a fast start in the Pool C opener of the NJCAA Division I National Championship Tournament.
The Lady Apaches freshman Vicki Adams scored three minutes and 45 seconds into the game and went on to hand Seminole State College its first loss of the season, 3-0 at Orlando Health Stadium on the Melbourne campus of Eastern Florida State College.
“It was an amazing feeling, it’s always good to start of positive,” Adams said. “We have been starting off strong all season and it has become like a ritual for us.”
The goal marked the ninth time this season the Apaches have scored in the first 10 minutes of a game and have scored in the first 15 minutes in 13 of the team’s 21 games this season.
On Monday, the 1-0 lead would hold into halftime, but Tyler Junior College came out in the second half inspired and after missing on a couple of opportunities, Adams found the back of the net once again to make it 2-0. It was Adams’ 15th goal of the season.
Less than a minute later Patricia Estupinan scores on a free kick to make it 3-0. It was Estupinan’s 24th goal of the season.
“We were worried about this game because we played them in a preseason scrimmage, so they knew what we had and we knew what they had, it was good to get the quick goal and set the tone. Missing a PK made me worry a bit, but we settled down and finished some good ones in the second half,” Tyler Junior College head coach Corey Rose said. “It was good to get two back to back and give us some breathing room. That third goal was important. The spacing was excellent, goalkeeper played well. Our backs did very well today.”
Tyler Junior College improved to 20-1 with the win and will play at 3 p.m. Wednesday against Snow College. Seminole State College will look to get its first national tournament win at 3 p.m. against Snow College.
The national tournament games are available live online at njcaachampstv.com
