Freshman forward David Garcia scored two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, and the Buccaneers defeated Coastal Bend College 2-1 in both teams’ Region XIV finale at Hohlt Park’s Rankin Field in Brenham, Texas.
The victory not only gives Blinn (12-6-2, 8-5-1 Region XIV) a home game for the opening round of the Gulf South District Tournament, but its 12 wins are a single-season program record.
As of Saturday evening, the Buccaneers were in line for another rematch against the Cougars in the opening round of the playoffs, but a surprising outcome in another region tilt changed those plans. Jacksonville College upset No. 4 Angelina College, 2-1, which pushed the Jaguars past Coastal Bend in the conference standings. Blinn will now host Jacksonville at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26, at Rankin Field.
“It’s pleasing to secure a home seeding in the playoffs,” Buccaneers head coach Michael McBride said after Saturday’s win. “However, we’ll need to play much, much better if we want to progress beyond Wednesday’s game.”
After a scoreless first half, Coastal Bend took a 1-0 lead in the 58th minute and held its advantage for almost 20 minutes.
Garcia netted the equalizer in the 78th minute when he scored on an assist from freshman defender Josh Inouye and freshman forward Pascal Pfeifer.
The Cougars outshot the Buccaneers 17-7 in regulation, but a short overtime period featured just one shot, and it proved crucial.
(Pictured: Blinn College freshman forward Pascal Pfeifer, left, battles Coastal Bend’s Elijah Payne for the ball during a Region XIV match Oct. 22)
In extra time, Garcia sealed the victory when he took a feed from midfielders Felix Mesquita (sophomore) and Jay Hernandez (freshman) and buried it in the 98th minute.
Sophomore goalkeeper Kevin Pena made eight saves for the Bucs and earned his 11th win.
The victory over the Cougars was significant for the Bucs, as it was their first win against their region counterparts since a 5-3 triumph on Sept. 21, 2019, in Brenham.
Blinn is undefeated in four overtime matches this season, going 3-0-1 in those contests.
Now in just their fifth season of competition, the Buccaneer men’s soccer program is 5-0-3 all-time in overtime tilts.
Garcia’s two goals against Coastal Bend gave him 34 points this fall (16 goals, two assists), which is a new Blinn single-season record. He is also third in NJCAA Division I in goals scored on the year.
Mesquita is also third in NJCAA DI with 14 assists and padded his Blinn career record, which now stands at 20.
Also Saturday, the Bucs set a single-season program record for goals scored with 60. They rank fifth in NJCAA DI goals, second in total points (209) and first in assists (89).
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
