New era: Miami-Dade College soccer teams open seasons with two milestone victories
It’s hard to decipher which Miami Dade College soccer team was more impressive in its season opener Thursday.
The men — playing the program’s first soccer game in 36 years — beat the nation’s top-ranked junior college squad, New York City’s Monroe College, 1-0. Monroe has won the past two national championships, yet it was held to just one shot.
The women — playing the program’s first soccer game ever — went to Lufkin, Texas, and defeated Angelina College, 5-3.
In the men’s win at home, Edoardo Duchini scored in the 55th minute off an assist from Guilherme Soares Martins.
“To get MDC’s first goal in 36 years was my desire,” said Duchini, a native of Italy who is quickly learning English. “I’m the ‘most happy’ person in the world.”
MDC coach Giuseppe DePalo, who is also a native of Italy but has been in the U.S. for years, gambled a bit by keeping Duchini on the bench for the game’s first 35 minutes.
“It was a difficult decision,” DePalo said. “Duchini is a back-to-the-goal player. We wanted to start the game aggressively. We wanted to press and disrupt [Monroe].”
To achieve that goal, DePalo started Alejandro Cumplido at forward. Once Duchini was inserted into the game,
MDC played with two forwards.
“Alejandro is more mobile — a better-pressing striker,” DePalo said. “It worked.”
The payoff came when Duchini — with his back to the goal — received Martins’ pass. On Duchini’s second touch, he made a 180-degree turn and fired a low strike that found its mark on the left side of the net.
“When I scored, I didn’t know what to feel,” Duchini said. “There were a lot of emotions all together, and there were a lot of teammates hugging me.”
MDC goalkeeper Samuel Cavo made just one save — but it was a big one as he stopped a Monroe shooter in the 85th minute.
“I can’t say I expected to beat [Monroe],” DePalo said. “We’re a new team. We’ve only been practicing together for three weeks.
“But I’m also not surprised. I thought we would compete. We had a good game plan and our players performed well.”
Should MDC be ranked nationally after beating the two-time reigning national champs?
“I couldn’t care less,” DePalo said. “We’re going to play hard whether we are ranked one or one million.”
As for the MDC women, they scored just 23 seconds into their first-ever game as Brazilian native Julia Gurgel hit the back of the net.
Tessa Abreu made it 2-0 just 73 seconds later.
However, the score was tied 3-3 until MDC’s Camila Martins Viera got the game-winner in the 78th minute. Five minutes later, MDC got an insurance goal from Kyra Tuesta. Ashley Fonseca made five saves to secure the win.
MDC lost 3-0 to Tyler Junior College of Texas on Saturday to complete its two-game trip. Tyler is ranked fourth in the nation.
The women will play their home opener at 7 p.m. Wednesday against Ave Maria.
MDC coach Ramiro Vengoechea was traveling back home from Texas and unavailable for comment. But LaSalle’s Anthony Vuono, who coached Fonseca in high school, raved about the Sharks.
“Ashley has been playing
at a high level for a long time,” Vuono said of Fonseca, who has represented Honduras’ Under-20 national team. “[Vengoechea] is a great coach. He’s one of the pioneers of girls’ soccer in Miami, and he’s perfect for MDC.”
THIS AND THAT
FIU’s volleyball team will open its season Friday in a neutral-site game against Northern Iowa. The match will be played in Dayton, Ohio. In fact, FIU’s first 10 games will all be played outside of
Miami. With work being done inside FIU’s gym — a new weight room and lights — the Panthers won’t play their home opener until Sept. 19 against Texas Tech.
MDC’s volleyball team, ranked second in the nation, won its season opener Thursday, defeating fourth-rated Salt Lake, 3-0, in a tournament in Salt Lake City. Two MDC players competed for their home country’s juniornational teams this summer: Mia Martinez (Puerto Rico) and Katielle Alonzo (Dominican Republic).