OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – For the previous three seasons, the Johnson County men's soccer team had been one-and-done in the Region VI playoffs, losing in the first round. On Sunday, the Cavaliers snapped that string with a 1-nil victory over Dodge City.
JCCC freshman forward Ramon Bravo scored just 4-mintues, 10-seconds into the game off a feed from freshman defender Adrian Fernandez, and that proved all the Cavaliers would need. Bravo's game-winner is the fifth on the season, which ties for first in the Kansas Jayhawk Conference.
The Conquistadors outshot the Cavaliers 18-10 in the match, and 12-7 in the second half. JCCC sophomore goalkeeper Pedro Ivaskowski, a three-time KJCCC Goalkeeper of the Week selection this season, registered eight of his nine saves in the second half, earning his fifth full shutout of the year and sixth overall.
Johnson County improves to 10-5-2 in the al-time series against Dodge City, but that was just their second win in the last six meetings, all decided by one goal.
Johnson County (10-5-1), the fourth seed in the eight-team tournament, was originally scheduled to travel to Great Bend to face No. 1 seed Barton. However, the NJCAA ruled Barton had to forfeit its 1-0 first round win over No. 8 seed Neosho County for using an ineligible player. The Cavaliers will now host Neosho County (12-7-0) Friday, Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. The winner advances to the Plains District Tournament, November 6-7, at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.
Johnson County swept the series this season, winning 2-1 in double overtime at on Sept. 25, and 1-0 in Chanute on Oct. Oct. 19.