Trojan Shield Weekly Update: August 27, 2018

Greetings from Trojan Country!

softball 2018

meeting

It was a great first week of school for the Trojan student-athletes. We started the week off with a meeting on Sunday night and then they hit the ground running with classes on Monday morning. We also competed in our first games of the fall season, with volleyball playing six times, men’s soccer playing three games and women’s soccer playing a pair of games including our first home contest of the year.

A great deal of work goes into each season, and most people know about the effort the teams make in practicing and getting ready to participate on the field. Something that usually goes unseen is the eligibility process. At TSJC we are blessed to have the experienced pair of Rich and Christy Holden working with the coaches to make sure our athletes are eligible to compete. This year was especially trying but the Holdens worked extra hours to make sure we were within all of the rules and each player had the correct information on file. Thank you to Rich and Christy for all of your hard work!

Last Week's Results

Women’s Soccer –

Defeated Dodge City CC – 3-1
vs Hutchinson CC – game was called in 59th minute due to lightning

Men’s Soccer –

Defeated Dodge City CC 3-2 in OT
Lost to Ranger College 5-1
Lost to Western Texas College 3-0

Volleyball –

Lost to Eastern Wyoming 3-1
Lost to #12 Laramie County 3-0
Defeated Cisco College 3-0
Lost to Frank Phillips CC 3-0
Lost to Pratt CC 3-2
Defeated Dodge City CC 3-1

This Week

Friday -

Volleyball travels to La Junta, Colorado for games with Hesston and Frank Phillips
Women’s Soccer travels to Salt Lake City, Utah for a game with Salt Lake CC
Men’s Soccer travels to Salt Lake City, Utah for a game with Salt Lake CC

Saturday -

Volleyball travels to La Junta, Colorado for games with Indian Hills CC and North Platte CC
Women’s Soccer travels to Price, Utah for a game with Utah State Eastern
Men’s Soccer travels to Price, Utah for a game with Utah State Eastern

Sunday -

Baseball travels to Fort Collins, Colorado for a scrimmage with CSU

Softball hosts Alumni

alumni

The 12th annual alumni scrimmage was held at Southside Park on Saturday. In front of a large crowd the former Trojan athletes mixed it up with the current Lady Trojans in the first scrimmage of the fall. Returning this year were Alex Moore, Vikki Gonzales, Valerie Garcia, Ashley (Collins) Johnson, Kaitlyn (Mattila) Lollar, Jazzy (Medrano) Rodriguez, Tashena McIntosh, Torri Atencio, Deanna Zamora, Rachel (Lovato) Ford, Amanda Garrison, Katelyn Welker, Deanna Montano, Laurita Atencio, Kaycee Prevedel and Laura (Trehal) Kelley.

The teams took a break between games to honor former Trojan Christy Bruno-Watts who recently passed away in Colorado Springs. Christy played for the Trojans in the 2006 and 2007 seasons under Coach Paula Seifried as a freshman and Coach Swazo as a sophomore. The current team unveiled a banner in her honor which will remain in left field, where Christy played, all season. Her parents, Ronette and Troy Bruno, were on hand for the scrimmage. Our prayers go out to their family during this difficult time.

Lady Trojans top DCCC

soccer

The Lady Trojan soccer team was the first to step on the field for a regulation game this season, as they traveled to Dodge City, Kansas for a game with the Conquistadors. TSJC took the lead early when freshman Hannah Day found the net off of an assist from Isabel Pinheiro. Dodge City tied it early in the second half, but that wouldn’t last long as TSJC struck back on a goal from Jade Glasser. The Trojans would put it away when Ashlee Minne broke away and slotted one past the keeper to make it 3-1. Trojan goalkeeper Cambri Curtis had three saves in the contest.

Trojan men win overtime thriller

soccer

The men’s soccer team got off to a slow start in Dodge City, Kansas on Tuesday giving up a pair of goals in the opening minutes. The score would remain 2-0 until the 62 minute when Arseno Hamilton would take an assist from Hakim Williams for his first college goal. The Trojans kept the pressure on and with only two minutes remaining would find an equalizer from Christopher Badibengi. In overtime the Trojans kept on the attack and forced a penalty. Hamilton stepped up to the spot and drove it home for the 3-2 victory. Eric Estrada had five saves in goal for the Trojans.

Young volleyball squad faces difficult opener

Volleyball spike

The Trojan volleyball squad, with four sophomores and twelve freshmen, headed to Cheyenne, Wyoming to open the 2018 season. The Trojans faced Eastern Wyoming in the opener and then #12 ranked Laramie County to finish the evening. Against Eastern the Trojans were close in every set, losing the match with scores of 20-25, 19-25, 25-20 and 18-25. Sophomores Maria Duran, six kills, and Heloisa Niespodzinski, 16 digs, led the way statistically. Against the nationally ranked Eagles to the Trojans had a harder time falling in straight sets. Freshman Paola Maradei Mejia had four kills and a block to lead TSJC.

“We have a young team and made a lot of young mental mistakes,” commented Coach Melissa Hardman. “We had moments of greatness but clammed up after a mistake. All things that are easy to fix.”

The Trojans then went 2-2 over the weekend, defeating Cisco and Dodge City at a tournament in Lamar, Colorado. TSJC will be on the road again this weekend before opening at home with the SOCO Classic Tournament on September 7 and 8.