DCTC defeats Riverland 5-2 for 1st win of the season

DCTC Scores Early and Defeats Riverland 5-2 Freshman Contreras scores first half hat-trick in first win for DCTC

The Dakota County Technical College Blue Knights mens soccer team rebounded from a difficult preseason road trip by defeating Riverland College 5-2 on Wednesday in Austin Minnesota.  DCTC's first win of the season improved their record to 1-2.

In Wednesdays game, DCTC forward Sammy Contreras (Freshman Hopkins), playing in his first game, scored his first collegiate goal and hat trick by scoring three first half goals. Francisco Martinez (Freshman Columbia Heights) aided Contreras with two assists while Jhony Blanco (Sophomore Prior Lake) gained an assist on Contreras' third goal. Michael Zziwa (Freshman Uganda) and Henry Puchuela (Sophomore Richfield) each scored goals putting DCTC in a commanding 5-0 first half lead. Riverland would go on to score twice in the second half before the final whistle.

Ten days earlier, on a preseason trip to Omaha, DCTC took on national power house programs Iowa Western and Jonhson County Kansas.  DCTC faired very well against #2 Iowa Western in a -12 loss but collapsed the next day in a lopsided 8-1 loss to the team from Kansas City.

Cam Stoltz commented "This early season has shown that we can step on the field and compete with the best and also lack confidence and wisdom to play consistent two days or two halves in a row. We are still seeking our best scoring threats in the attack while defending 90 full minutes assignment. Our team is young, but we have tremendous talent and a good learning curve."

DCTC has 19 freshman and six sophomores on the roster.  Only three returning regulars are in the line up from a 2014 nationally ranked team.  DCTC hosts Century College next Wednesday September 9th at 7pm at Ames Soccer Complex before traveling to Northern Minnesota for games in Duluth the next weekend.