BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - Tyler Junior College head coach Corey Rose preaches the importance of the first five minutes of a game.
On Friday night, the first five minutes sent the Apache Ladies to the NJCAA Women's Division I national tournament championship game.
TJC scored twice in the first five minutes and hung on to defeat Laramie County (Wyoming) Community College 2-1 in the second semifinal at Titan Soccer Complex on the Melbourne campus of Eastern Florida State College.
Sophomore Carlota Suarez scored both of the goals and had a third one bounce off the post in those critical first five minutes of the game.
"We want to come out and set the tone early," Rose said. "We start fast, set the tone and luckily we were able to hold on."
In two of their three tournament games the Apache Ladies have done just that, scoring in the first minute. On Friday night it was a bit quicker as Suarez found the back of the net just 11 seconds into the game on an assist from Ana Lesmes.
The pair teamed up again four minutes later and it was 2-0 before some fans took their seats.
"She shows up in big games, she is a big-game player and made the most of her opportunities tonight," Rose said.
The Apache Ladies will face Paradise Valley (Arizona) Community College, who defeated Monroe (New York) Community College in penalty kicks, in the national championship game at 6 p.m. Saturday.