The Allen Community College women’s and men’s soccer teams split a set of matches against Pratt Community College on Wednesday afternoon.
The women’s team began the afternoon with a stunning 1-0 overtime loss before the men’s team came out on top in a tight one, 2-1. The Red Devils’ winning score came with 15 minutes left in the second half off the foot of Romario Tomlinson.
Women’s soccer
The Lady Red Devils (5-4; 0-1) controlled the ball much of the game with a combined 11 shots through regulation but couldn’t get any shots to fall. Allen was able to toe 10 shots in the match with seven in the first half and three in the second half.
Allen also managed to kick five shots on goal through 90 minutes but the Pratt goalkeeper came up with a six-save performance in the win.
“I think their goalkeeper came up big for them, especially the two in the first half. And the girl that made the save with her face, that could have been 1-0 in the first half,” said Allen head coach Jeremy McGinnis. “We’re having trouble finishing right now in the final third.”
Jessica Allen was all over the field for the Lady Red Devils and made two shots on goal. Mirla Chavarria, Katherine Hammond and Gabrielle Heath each footed shots on goal as well.
Autumn Wyatt and Allen led the team with three shots apiece.
“We had more possession and we moved the ball better. But we didn’t combine well up top to create anything that’s really dangerous,” said McGinnis. “This is one game where you can completely dominate and still lose. We didn’t completely dominate but it was pretty close.”
Pratt put the finishing touches on the match seven minutes into the overtime period when Ashlynn Kurtz sent a shot through an Allen defender’s legs and to the back of the net.
The score was unassisted and gave Pratt the 1-0 overtime victory, leaving the Allen fans stunned.
Men’s soccer
The men’s team (7-1-1; 1-0) evened things out in the second match with a 2-1 victory over the Beavers.
Things didn’t look pretty early for the Red Devils as Pratt scored a team goal 18 minutes into the match for the quick 1-0 lead.
“The second half, I don’t think they really got into our box. We couldn’t finish balls early though and we had lots of chances,” said Allen head coach Doug Desmarteau. “We’ve been in those situations before and we’re very tenacious. We have pretty good leadership on the team that allows us to keep our heads up no matter what the score is.”
That changed 20 minutes into the match when Allen’s Gustavo Guarnieri found the back of the net on an unassisted goal to knot things up at 1-1 in the first half.
Allen then put the game away with 15 minutes left in the second half when Tomlinson was fed a pass from Temesgn Tezera which he finished for the one goal advantage, 2-1.
The Red Devils were led around the goal by Boikaego Mbaakanyi’s three shots and two shots on goal. Also, Leonardo Andognini, Patrick Alouidor and Guarnieri each totaled two shots and one shot on goal in the win.
