OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County men's soccer team moved one victory away from punching their ticket to the NJCAA Men's Soccer Championships after posting a 2-0 shutout over University of Arkansas Rich Mountain last night at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kan.
The Cavaliers (12-5-3) will face Kansas Jayhawk East Conference champion Cowley College (13-1-2) in the title match. The winner advances to the NJCAA Men's Soccer Championships Nov. 18-23 in Tyler, Texas. In their two meetings earlier this season, both games finished in a double overtime tie. On Sept. 14 at Cowley, the match ended 0-0. In the return game on Oct. 21, the match ended in a 1-1 tie. Overall, the Cavaliers have a slight edge in the series against the Tiger, 9-7-2.
Freshman defender Chavoy Malcolm put the Cavaliers up 1-0 in the 37th minute with his second goal of the season. Sophomore forward Brad Tulley provided the assist, his sixth on the season, and second straight game-winning assist.
Johnson County held on to that 1 goal lead until the Tulley scored the game-clinching goal in the 70th minute, his seventh score of the season.
The Cavaliers defense completely dominated the Bucks, holding them to just four shots, one on goal.
Sophomore goalkeeper Pedro Ivaskoski saved the only shot he faced to earn his sixth shutout of the season, and improved his season mark to 12-5-3 and his career record to 21-14-4. His 21 career victories are second-most all-time and just three shy of the all-time record of 24 set by Jason Mittendorf from 1993-94.