MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas — The Blinn College men’s soccer team downed Northeast Texas Community College, 4-2, Friday on the road.
With the win, the Buccaneers improve to 5-4 overall and 4-3 in conference play.
“We got off to a really slow start, but then we were absolutely spectacular in the end,” head coach Michael McBride said. “They are getting better each game and doing small things a little bit better each time they are out, so it is great to see the progress. They are a completely different team now than they were eight or nine games ago, so as a coach that is amazing to see.”
Four Buccaneers helped contribute to the conference win as Cesar Cabrera, Brook Williams, Ethan Unger, and Trey Gage each scored one goal. Stefan Fevrier Sildor, Marco Del Vecchio, and Marco Rodriguez Jr. each came up with one assist. Alex Ramirez and Rodriguez Jr. led the Buccaneers with three shots on goal each, while Cabrera, Fevrier Sildor, and Unger each recorded two.
Goalie Diego Berlingeri recorded seven saves in the game.
“I think as the game went on tonight, we built our confidence and started to play our game,” assistant coach Jacob Beerman said. “Unger had a great game and raised the level of the team when he went in and several other players stepped it up as well. I’m happy we came away with another road win and hopefully keep building momentum towards playoffs.
Northeast Texas took a 2-0 lead after scoring in the 11th and 13th minutes, however Blinn evened the score by halftime. Fevrier Sildor assisted Cabrera in scoring Blinn’s first goal in the 22nd minute, then Del Vecchio assisted Williams in scoring a goal in the 43rd minute to tie the game 2-2.
The game remained tied until Unger scored in the 60th minute for the Buccaneers to lead 3-2.. Blinn took a 4-2 lead when Rodriguez Jr. passed the ball for Gage to score in the 70th minute.
Next, the Buccaneers will continue conference play against Jacksonville College on Tuesday, May 4, at 5 p.m. on the road.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
