Gators earn first win of season

The VPCC men's soccer team has struggled with numbers this season, but had a handful of subs available to help them get into the win column with a 5-3 victory over Rush Elite 09, a state-ranked travel team, on Oct. 14.

"It was a good breakout effort for our team," said Al Cousineau, who is in his first year with the Gators.

For the Gators, Luuay Hassan scored two goals, and Dieumerci Anania, Mohammad Jala Saeed and Cody Cole one each. Saeed, Cody and Dunlen Francis added assists. Justin Jones led the defensive effort.

On Oct.10, the Gators traveled to Raleigh, N.C., and were 10 minutes from their first victory before falling to Shaw University's JV team 3-1. Yoseph Asenga, off an assist from Anania, put the Gators up 1-0 a little more than 20 minutes into the game. It stayed that way late into the game, with the hosts scoring three goals in the final 10 minutes.

 "I was proud of the boys for their effort. Learning to put a team away is the next step," Cousineau said. "We put ourselves in a position to win. It's been a learning process for everybody."

The Gators traveled with just 12 players and lost Cole early in the game after he was hit by the ball. He didn't return.

"They're a solid program," Cousineau said of the Bears. "It was good for us to put some things together."

The Gators close out the season with games Sunday, Oct. 19 against RSAL at Wanner Stadium at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 21 against Mid-Atlantic Christian University (Wanner Stadium, 4 p.m.) and Thursday, Oct. 30 against Rush Elite U19 (Kiln Creek Park, Yorktown, 4 p.m.)

For more information on the College, visit www.vpcc.edu.