A Promising start for Coach Braz as the Raptors Men's Soccer Team Starts the Season 2-0
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of Southern Maryland (1-2-0, 0-2-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Montgomery College (MD) (1-0-0, 1-0-0) | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harford Community College (2-3, 1-3) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Montgomery College (MD) (2-0, 2-0) | 1 | 2 | 3 |
College of Southern Maryland
Montgomery College (MD)
| Game Statistics | College of Southern Maryland | Montgomery College (MD) |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 10 (5) | 30 (18) |
| Saves | 7 | 5 |
| Fouls | 8 | 12 |
| Corner Kicks | 3 | 3 |
| Offsides | 1 | 3 |
Harford Community College
| Game Statistics | Harford Community College | Montgomery College (MD) |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 19 (16) | 15 (6) |
| Saves | 7 | 0 |
| Fouls | 8 | 4 |
| Corner Kicks | 8 | 6 |
| Offsides | 0 | 0 |
A promising start for Head Coach Pedro Braz's return as the MC Raptors Men's Soccer team wins its first two games of the shortened season. Having led MC to National Championship appearances in 2012, 2013, and 2014, Braz looks poised to return the program to its dominant position in the MD JUCO conference.
In the inaugural match at the new Raptors Soccer Stadium, Montgomery shut out the College of Southern MD Hawks 10-0. Just two days later, MC squared off with the Fighting Owls of Harford Community College and came out on top 3-1 win on Tuesday, April 20.
The returning class leads the Raptors team, supported by a crop of promising first-year players.
After the first two games, sophomore forward Joseph Kitengie is making a case for the player of the month honors, leading the team with nine goals and 180 minutes played. Last season Kitengie played in 16 games (nine as a starter) and scored ten goals with two assists.
Returning sophomore and newly appointed team captain Wilmer Escobar Jr. is a leader on and off the field. After being on the receiving end of a crunching tackle in the opener against College of Southern Maryland, Escobar showed grit by playing 90 minutes against Harford with a deep muscle bruise. Escobar returns to the Raptors after playing in 14 games last season.
Returning Sophomore classmates Khalb Mesfin and Abraham Israel have secured starting positions in the squad as well, with Israel gaining a goal and an assist from the left-wing.
Midfield sophomore Abou Toure has slotted nicely into the backline due to an injury to Keino Thompson, helping to organize the defense and build possession out of the back. Toure is returning to the Raptors after playing in 18 games, ten games as a starter, during the 2019 bill with five goals and three assists in the bag.
The Raptors freshmen class is pulling their share of the workload. Midfielder Anthony Jimenez leads the team in assists with four helpers and Freshman goalie Marvin Mendez has two wins under his belt with one shut out, 21 saves, and only one goal allowed in 180 minutes played.
The Raptors hit the road to play Hagerstown Community College on April 26 at 5 pm and host rivals Howard Community College on Saturday, May 1. While fans are not currently allowed to attend games due to COVID restrictions, all Raptors home games will be streamed live on MC Raptor's YouTube channel.