Expectations Return as the MC Men's Soccer Team Kicks of the 2021 Campaign
With a new stadium and the return of a head coach that led the Raptors to a National Championship Final, expectations are back for the MC Men's soccer team.
Fall starts this Thursday, August 24, at Chesapeake College at 4 pm while the team's home opener is Thursday, September 2 at 7 pm against Allegany College of MD.
The coronavirus pandemic moved the Fall 2020 Soccer Championship season to a shortened Spring 2021 Season where the team finished as the 2021 Region XX DI Runner-up. COVID restrictions also impacted tryouts and saw the team play the season with an undermanned squad – often fielding only eleven players and no substitutes. After starting 5-0, the roster struggled with injuries and ultimately finished with a 6-4 record.
While the COVID-delayed season was a struggle, it provided Head Coach Pedro Braz the opportunity to begin his second term at Montgomery College. Having coached the Raptors from 2012 to 2014, Braz returned from Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. The shortened bench was difficult to manage in the moment but allows MC to return a core of players with a significant amount of game experience.
Having spent this summer identifying reinforcements, the Raptors have regrouped and feel ready to face weighty expectations. Their goal of returning the program to the National Championship picture begins this Thursday, August 26 at Chesapeake College at 4 pm.
On Thursday, September 2 at 7 pm, the Raptors will have fans in their new stadium for the first time ever as they open their home schedule against Allegany College of MD.
TOP RETURNERS
Luis Aquino (Rockville High School) Midfielder – Aquino, an All-MD JUCO First Team Honor selection, will be back in the midfield controlling the flow of the game. Aquino started in all ten games last season and scored second on the team, having scored six goals and recorded three assists with one game-winning goal.
Wilmer "Junior" Escobar (Bowie High School) Midfielder – Escobar, an All-MD JUCO Second Team Honor selection, started in all ten games last season and recorded two assists.
Khalb Mesfin (John F. Kennedy High School) Midfielder – Mesfin, a 2021 All-MD JUCO Second Team Honor selection, started in all ten games with one goal and four assists after playing in 9 games in 2019 with four goals and four assists.
Marvin Mendez (Wheaton High School) Goalkeeper – Mendez played in all ten games for the Raptors last season and recorded a record of 6-4 with three shutouts, and a .778 save percentage.
Keino Thompson (Wolmer's Boys School) Defense - Coming back from an injury that sidelined him for the beginning of the season, Thompson played in six games last season and made a big impact on the backline. Thompson played in 18 games and started in10 games in the 2019 season and scored eight goals and five assists.
Abou Toure (Lycee El Hadj Lamina Kalissa) Defense - Toure is a versatile piece of the Raptors' core. After playing as a midfielder in 2019, Toure shifted to the backline and played all ten games last season, where he helped out defending opponents' attacks. In 2019, Toure scored five goals and recorded three assists in 18 games.
KEY DEPARTURES
Joseph Kitengie, Striker – Kitengie finished the 2021 spring season as the national NJCAA Division 1 leading goal scorer, with 19 strikes in 10 games. Having graduated from Montgomery College, Kitengie earned an athletic scholarship to join NAIA Division 1 program William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Coaches' Quote
"We're anxious to get the season started and restore Montgomery College to where I believe it belongs – competing for MDJUCO and Region XX titles every year. The beautiful new Raptor's stadium provides a home this program deserves and the team is excited to be able to finally welcome our fans back to the games."
Masks are required for all fans, per guidelines set forth by Montgomery College and Montgomery County.
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