The Daytona State Men’s Soccer Team won the Southeast District 3-2 over Richard Bland College in the Region 10 Champions on November 6^th.  The Falcon’s hadn’t played a match in 16 days since clinching the Region 8 Championship with 3-0 and 2-0 wins over in-state rival Eastern Florida State College.  The Falcons outshot the Richard Bland Statesmen this past Saturday 30-6.

It was a cold Virginia morning for the Falcons as they started the game with a 10:30 AM kickoff.  The Falcons went down early in the first five minutes, with a goal scored by Statesman, Andrew Retmier.  The lead would be short lived as the Falcons would tie the match in the 15^th minute off a corner kick played by Vander Rocha to Prince Nwabudike for a smashing header.  The match would not remain tied for long as Statesmen leading goal scorer Michael Afful would barrier his 18^th goal of the season in the 19^th minute.  This didn’t sit well with the Falcon leading scorer Yutaro Tsukada, and he soon after scored his 18^th goal of the season on a no angle free kick that was perfectly struck and placed upper ninety. 

“Yutaro is extremely dangerous on set pieces, from literally anywhere” said Falcon leader, Coach Sasnett.  Daytona State’s Nwabudike would strike again on a header from a flick from Daniel Bedoya from a long-range set piece played by Yutaro Tsukada for a 3-2 lead going into halftime. 

Sasnett on Nwabudike “I can’t say enough great things about Prince, he is an outstanding leader, fierce competitor, displays true sportsmanship and a winner!”   

The Falcon’s would come out in the second half firing on all cylinders.  Daytona out-possessed and outshot the Statesmen 20-2 in the 2^nd half.  However, despite putting on an outstanding offensive performance, the Falcon’s couldn’t score.  Credit to the Statesman goalkeeper Cristian Rodriguez and their back line. 

Sasnett on the half, “When you play this game long enough, you come across matches and halves like this. I was still very proud of our performance.  Of course, we have things we can fix, but at the end of the day the “W” is all that truly matters.”

Sasnett continued, “Coach Damien Westfield is 1^st class, his team fought their hearts out and executed his battle plan.  The players conducted themselves with great sportsmanship.” The victory over Richard Bland gives Daytona back-to-back Southeast District Titles and the 3^rd in the program’s 6-year history.    

The win qualifies Daytona State College Mens’ Soccer for the NJCAA National Tournament, to be held at Tyler College in Tyler, Texas on November 15-20^th.  This will be Daytona’s 3^rd trip to the National Tournament since the program started in 2016.  The Falcon’s are currently ranked 8^th in the nation and await their seeding for the national tournament.