College Sports

By JOE BUIE
Staff Writer

Tyler Junior College soccer coach Steve Clements preaches defense, defense, defense.

Clements was especially excited about this year's stop unit, a big group led by what he calls his "Twin Towers" at outside defender.

Sophomore Roger DaCosta and freshman Allen Thomson look more like football players than soccer players, and they are also fast.

Thomson stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 180 pounds, while DaCosta is 6-3, 190. The duo, from South Africa, is assigned to the other teams' forwards.

"The biggest (advantage) it gives you is in the air," Clements said. "A lot of opponents will play long balls and those guys have a distinct advantage to clear them out. They are physical backs, they play hard, and they can harass people obviously better than a smaller person."

Thomson, who was recommended to Clements by the University of Connecticut, enjoys the physical aspect of the game and trying to intimidate the opposition.

"It gives us a presence," Thomson said. "I'd rather be bigger, looking down on people, than being smaller and looking up."

Working with fellow defenders Edmund Pietersen, Kyle Timm and Jose Robles, along with a trio of goalkeepers, the twin terrors helped the Apaches post five shutouts during a six-game winning streak late in the season.

"We've battled some injuries from time to time with (Thomson and DaCosta) but as a team we've allowed 13 goals (in 16 matches), which is on par with our defenses through the years," Clements said.

Lon Morris stopped the Apaches' winning streak with a stunning 2-1 upset victory Oct. 18 in Jacksonville. It was the Bearcats' first-ever win against TJC.

"It was pretty disappointing," DaCosta said. "It stunted our development as a team, I guess, but in a way it was good. It gave us a reality check. I thought Lon Morris deserved to beat us, they played better than we did."

The Apaches will look to avenge the setback at home Friday against Lon Morris in the Region XIV semifinals at 7 p.m.

To win the regional championship and advance to the district tournament, the Apaches know they will have to play good team defense.

"It's much like basketball - it takes five guys defending in basketball and it takes 11 to defend here," Clements said.

The Game

The Apaches entered their regular season finale Oct. 18 as the hottest team in junior college soccer, but Lon Morris got their attention with the 2-1 win.

TJC had won six games in a row, five by shutout, including wins over top-10 teams Jefferson (Mo.), 3-0, and San Jacinto, 2-0.

"I give Lon Morris all the credit," said Clements, whose team has gone seven days without playing a match. "They came to play and played well. They got two early goals. You can always examine problems a lot easier after a loss than you can after a win."

The Apaches dominated Lon Morris in the first meeting, 5-1, Sept. 4 at Pat Hartley Field.

Freshman midfielder Sergio Perez, who scored a goal in the Bearcats' victory, leads Lon Morris with 10 goals for the season. He also has six assists. Sophomore forward Adam Lindsey is next with nine goals and nine assists.

Freshman midfielder Marco Correia leads the Apaches with 10 goals, his last coming in the big win over San Jacinto on Oct. 14.

The TJC-Lon Morris winner will advance to the regional final against No. 6 San Jacinto (13-2-1).

If the Apaches win, they will play the Coyotes at 5 p.m. Sunday. However, if Lon Morris wins, the regional final will be moved back to 7 p.m. Sunday.

TJC defenders Roger DaCosta (left) and Allen Thomson, both of South Africa, tower over the opposition.
((Staff Photo By Jaime R. Carrero))