OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County men's soccer team got its 2022 season off to a strong strong with a 4-3 victory at Indian Hills Friday afternoon. The Cavaliers led 3-1 at the break and 4-2 for much of the second half before settling for the one goal victory.
Freshman forward Jacksyn McIntrye (Blue Springs South/Blue Springs, Mo.) netted JCCC's first goal of the season and first of the match with a shot in the box just over five minutes after the start. Last year's leading scorer forward Alan Lopez (Dodge City/Dodge City, Kan.) provided the assist.
Indian Hill quickly evened the score at 1-1 when Lukas Glade fired a shot past Cavaliers sophomore goalkeeper Brandon McGaugh (Shawnee Mission East/Prairie Village, Kan.).
At 17:51 in the first half, JCCC sophomore defender Micah O'Garro (Sunrise Christian/Wichita, Kan.) put the Cavaliers back on top with a bicycle kick off a corner feed from McIntrye and 13 minutes later sophomore forward Ashton Owen (Free State/Lawrence, Kan.) gave JCCC a two-goal cushion off a feed from Lopez.
Indian Hills pulled to. Within one early in the second half off a goal by Mohammed Bouchafrati at 54:15, but the Cavaliers again led by two when Lopez found freshman midfielder Homer Skidmore (Blue Springs South/Blue Springs, Mo.), who beat a defender one-on-one in the box in the 58th minute. Lopez became the first player since October 3, 2018 to record three assists in a match.
The Warriors again pulled within a scored in the 82nd minute, but Johnson County's defense clamped down the final eight minutes to secure the victory.
McGaugh closed out the game making five saves.
Johnson County will look to improve to 2-0-0 on the season Saturday, August 20 when they face Crowder in Ottumwa, Iowa. JCCC's first home match is Saturday, August 27 against Jefferson at 4 p.m.