In the programs first season in 2016, the Angelina College Roadrunners men’s team won just one game – and that one on the final day of the season.
Things are turning around quickly in 2017. The Roadrunners earned the season’s first win Tuesday at Mountain View College, with Santiago Maya scoring two goals and providing an assist in the ‘Runners’ 3-2 win. Tito Zamarron also scored, getting an assist from Jack Martinez.
And in a turnaround from a year ago, when seemingly everything that could go wrong did, AC’s men managed to get a rare assist from a goal keeper. Julian Ramirez, the Roadrunner goalie, punted a ball from his own box far over the defense, allowing Maya to bang home a goal off the bounce.
The Lady Roadrunners shook off a tough 1-0 loss on the same day at Mountain View, a game in which head coach Freddy Drago said his team outshot its opponent 28-1 – only to see the one shot prove the game winner for the Lions.
AC’s ladies bounced back with wins on both Friday and Saturday. The Lady ‘Runners held off North Lake College on Friday behind goals from Jade Dewbre (with an assist from Naddia Garcia) and the game winner from Ashley Mora off a Jerissa Grimes assist.
Not even 48 hours later, the Lady Roadrunners were at Brookhaven College, where they won a double-overtime thriller. Kennedy Sessions scored AC’s first goal, and when Jerissa Grimes drew a foul in the second OT, Olivia Urrutia stepped up for the penalty kick, calmly banging the ball into the lower-right corner for the game winner.
Both AC teams open conference play on the road this week. On Friday, the teams play at Paris College, with the women kicking off at 2 p.m. and the men following at 4 p.m.
On Sunday, the teams will be in Mount Pleasant to take on Northeast Texas Community College, again at 2 and 4 p.m.
The Lady Roadrunners’ next home game will be on Wednesday, Sept. 13 against Tyler College.
The e-mail address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.
