Aug. 14, Houston ReVision Club at Sedalia
The Roadrunners soccer team had their first scrimmage Aug. 14 against the Houston Revision Club from Texas at the Fred Davis Sports Complex on the Sedalia campus. SFCC won the match 3-0.
SFCC opened the scoring courtesy of a penalty kick from Mani Hondroudakis with about 18 minutes remaining in the opening half. The Roadrunners found the back of the net again with about 13 minutes and 30 seconds remaining in first half, courtesy of a goal from Eduardo Antunes. SFCC took the two-goal advantage into halftime, which was lengthened because of a lightning delay. The Roadrunners put the final goal on the scoreboard with 40 minutes remaining in the contest with a goal from Aaron Latimer.
Reece Gabbert, Pedro Martins and Alex Haag earned the combined shutout in goal for SFCC.
SFCC Head Soccer Coach Jaime Beltran was pleased with what he saw from his team in their opening scrimmage.
"We were able to get everybody into the match and see several players in multiple positions," said Beltran. "We substituted more than we would in a regular game, but that's what these scrimmages are for."
The exhibition game had special meaning for six Roadrunners. Biganiro Espoir, Bosco Irankunda, Samson Jalloh, Joseph Kapyamba, John Mlondoni and Carlos Montoya, all from Houston, had played for a previous Houston ReVision Club team.
"Knowing we had signed that many players from one club team, we decided to bring that team up here for an exhibition game," said Beltran. "I appreciate the things the club team has done in the Houston area, and their head coach Charles Rotramel appreciates that we try to build a family atmosphere within our program. Coach Rotramel feels that State Fair is a good place for him to send his players, and our program is going to build on the foundation the ReVision Club has laid. We want to work hard to win, but always with integrity. Coach Rotramel decided to bring his players here so they could see their former teammates and friends, play a scrimmage and see our campus."
Aug. 15, William Woods University at Fulton Missouri
The Roadrunners closed out their exhibition schedule on Aug. 15 against William Woods University. SFCC emerged with a hard-fought 1-0 victory. Hondroudakis once again found the back of the net for SFCC.
"The guys played an excellent game," said Beltran. "There are a couple things here and there we need to fix. Overall, it was a good performance; we were able to play almost everybody that we wanted to. We had other opportunities to score. We defended well when we didn't have the ball, and we were able to
possess the ball. William Woods is a very strong, physical team and tried to use that to their advantage. It was good preparation for the season."
Coach Beltran was happy with the preseason for his men's team. When the regular season starts, the Roadrunners will be challenged right out of the gate.
"We start the regular season by playing potentially one of the best teams we will play all season, which is Barton Community College," said Beltran. "That will be an interesting way to open our regular season."
SFCC will travel to Great Bend, Kansas, to take on Barton Community College at 4 p.m. Aug. 25.
David Rohrbach
SFCC Athletics