The Virginia Western Community College Men’s Soccer team captured its first Virginia Community College System Men’s Soccer Championship by defeating Tidewater Community College 3-1 on Sunday in Virginia Beach.
“I’m really proud of the effort of our team and their willingness to develop as a team each day,” said Virginia Western coach Chris Dowdy. “The championship was a culmination of everything this season and an accomplishment that we set out for at the very onset of the season. Going forward, this team has set the standard very high for Virginia Western Men’s Soccer and the future is bright with the talented players returning and potential players enrolling from southwest Virginia.”
The second-seeded Virginia Western Blue Stars grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first half with a left post blast from midfielder Deo Ndayisenga. Mario Andreas Morales added to that advantage with a 15-yard shot to the top right corner of the net in the second half. The top-seeded Tidewater Storm answered with a goal on a corner kick header, but Blue Stars forward Damon Richards sealed the victory with a touch shot past the keeper, assisted from a 20-yard diagonal pass from Morales.
Virginia Western goalkeeper Jordan Kingery made seven saves as the Blue Stars finished the season 9-3, 6-1 in the VCCS.
Virginia Western placed four players on the All-VCCS first team: David Welch, Tyler Linkous, David Gaylor III and Zach Doss. On the second team were Morales, Kingery and Tristen Harrison.
