Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

8/25/2008
Story by Tyler Cundith

Cavaliers open season with a shutout

OVERLAND PARK, KS -- Johnson County Community College head men’s soccer coach Fatai Ayoade stressed the importance of his team getting off to a solid start to the 2008 season. His Cavaliers responded with an impressive 6-0 victory over visiting Dodge City Community College, Saturday, Aug. 23. The six goals are the most in a season opener since 2001. Additionally, the 6-0 shutout is the largest posted in a season opener, and the six goal victory is the highest in an opener since JCCC’s 10-1 win over Wentworth to open the 1978 season.

“This was a key for win us, not just because it was the opener, but it was against a conference team,”  Ayoade said. 

Sophomore midfielder Austin Knipp (Basehor-Linwood), the team’s leading scorer last year with nine goals, got JCCC on the board in the 21st minute of the first half, on a cross ball from freshman Dustin Schiller (Baldwin City, Kan.). It stayed 1-0 through the break until Schiller provided his second assist with an impressive throw in to freshman midfielder Roberto de Moraes (Olathe North), at 47:44 of the match.

Shiller then broke the match open with his first collegiate goal, scoring just three minutes later on an assist from freshman Michael Shadfar (Blue Valley North).  The Cavaliers would add three more scores in the final 21 minutes of the match. Freshman Austin Hamm (Andover, Kan.) netted a goal with a header, followed by freshman Leo Bassi-Rodriguez (Blue Valley West) on a cross and freshman Addis Kenea (Olathe North) off a deflection.

“We didn’t play well in the first half,” Ayoade said  “I talked to them about playing as a team at halftime. They came out and did that in the second half, and we scored five goals.”

Freshman Sean Craddick (St. Thomas Aquinas) earned the shutout, saving the only shot he faced. The Cavaliers look to improve to 2-0, Wednesday afternoon, when they host Maple Woods Community College at 4 p.m. This will be the first meeting between the two programs.