(CHEYENNE, Wyo) – The Trojans are headed back to the NJCAA National Soccer Tournament.
Trinidad State defeated Yavapai 3-1 on Friday afternoon in Cheyenne, Wyoming to qualify as one of the final twelve teams for the big event. The following afternoon the Trojans claimed their first ever West District Title with a 1-0 win over the College of Southern Nevada.
TSJC got of to a good start against Yapapai on a blustery Wyoming afternoon when Emiliano Gomez took an assist from Jermey Elmore-Klepac and found the net in the 23rd minute. The game remained 1-0 until the Trojans briefly found some breathing room on a beautiful goal from Biska Biyombo in the 64th minute. The two-goal lead was very short lived as the Roughriders John Kanner scored an unassisted goal a minute later. Yavapai pressured the Trojan defense relentlessly throughout the second half, but it was a goal from Filip Milivojevic that would seal it in the 87th minute. Hector Haros had three saves for the Trojans in goal.
Saturday's District title game against CSN would be physical and hard-fought throughout. TSJC got the only score of the contest in the 70th minute when Biyombo found Roch Alico for a Trojan goal. Haros had eight saves in the shutout.
The Trojans will head to Tyler, Texas for the 2016 National Tournament early next week. Group play begins Monday and runs through Wednesday. The four group winners will advance to a knockout round on Friday and Saturday with the winner being declared the 2016 National Champion. TSJC (17-4-0) is the #8 seed in the tournament. They will play in the same group as top ranked Tyler (20-0-0) and #12 Hill College (12-6-0). TSJC will play Hill at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Tyler at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.