Men’s Soccer Ranked #11 in Nation
NJCAA Division I Fall 2014 poll released Aug. 6
The men's soccer team at Dakota County Technical College is ranked #11 in the nation by the NJCAA Division I Fall 2014 Top 20 poll. Last season, 2013–2014, the Blue Knights turned in an overall record of 16–3–1, winning all nine of their home games at the Ames Soccer Complex on college's main campus in Rosemount, Minn. The team lost the last game of the season, falling 1–3 to eventual NJCAA DI national champion, Iowa Western Community College, in the NJCAA Region XI championship. DCTC was ranked #14 on the Top 20 poll in November 2013.
Head Coach Cam Stoltz reported that the upcoming season is possibly the most promising in Blue Knights history. "This team is more than a decade in the building," Stoltz said. "Our schedule has been top ten, getting stronger and stronger each year from playing teams like Yavapai and Iowa Western. This year we connected on all recruiting cylinders, signing great players locally and nationally. Our goal is to rise higher in the rankings and ultimately compete for a national championship."
Two outstanding freshman are Jhony Blanco, a midfielder from Prior Lake High School, and Adolfo Barrera-Gonzalez, a midfielder from North St. Paul High School, the 2013 Class 2A soccer champion. As a senior, Blanco scored 11 regular-season goals for the Lakers; Barrera-Gonzalez nailed the shootout kick that beat Eastview 5–4 in the 2A championship game.
DCTC opens this season Aug. 23 at noon playing a home game against Western Wyoming Community College. The Knights host a rematch with Iowa Western Oct. 1 at 7 p.m.