BY JOHN DUBOIS
CNHI
DANVILLE —
Following the 2009 season Danville Area Community College soccer coach David Barney got to know the coach of one of the top class 5A soccer programs in Texas.
That connection provided big dividends this season as Alejandro Diaz, Daniel Ozuna, Daniel Iglesias, and Eric Hernandez — all from El Paso, Texas — joined the Jaguars.
The players made an immediate impact Saturday in only their second game of the season as Hernandez scored two goals — including the game winner on a penalty kick — to give the Jaguars a 3-2 win over the Lewis & Clark Trailblazers.
All four players started and saw significant playing time with Iglesias scoring the Jaguars’ first goal on an assist from Ozuna.
“We are very happy to have these guys on the team,” Barney said. “They come from a solid high school and club team background. They are learning how to play together with the various styles we have on the team. Daniel Ozuna is capable of going around any player he meets and he is learning the right situations to dribble and the right situations to pass. He created a lot of opportunities for us on offense today.”
The Trail blazers got on the board first in the 17th minute, but Iglesias would score four minutes later and Hernandez would follow ten minutes later to put the Jaguars up 2-1.
A late goal by Lewis & Clark would send the game to the half tied at 2-2.
“We should have had the lead at the half,” Barney said. “We let a lot of chances get away and we have to finish opportunities. They put more pressure on us in the second half than they should have because we didn’t take advantage of those first half chances.”
Hernandez would connect on his penalty kick with 10 minutes to go. Former Oakwood Comet Adam Barr made several key saves at the end of the game to preserve the win.
“We had some lapses on defense at the end of the game and Adam came up big,” said Barney. “He was injured early in practice and is getting his mobility back. He has good technique, moves well in space, and is a consummate team player.
“Adam has been helping our back-up goalie Tyler Cunningham, from Georgetown, improve his game and he knows that Tyler will pressure him for playing time given the progress Tyler has made. That says a lot about Adam.”
Barney felt the style of the game was similar to the Jaguars’ opening game loss, with one notable difference.
“This was another very physical game, but the officials took control of this game early by using yellow cards and that forced Lewis & Clark to play the ball and not the man and that benefits our overall style of play,” Barney said. “With the couple of different styles of play we have on the team and I’m hoping the first win will help us jell as a team.”
The Jaguars have 12 freshmen on their 16-man roster. Refugio Guerrero and Michael Bateman are former Schlarman Hilltoppers, while Victor Sanchez from Bismarck-Henning returns to the game after taking a year off.
Also new to the team are Juan Carlos, David Tuggle from Oakwood, and Alex Dunn from Danville High. Returning sophomores are Cesar Gonzalez, David Ellermets from Danville First Baptist, Clint Spidle from Danville High, and Alex Colunga.
The Jaguars even their record at 1-1 and take on their top rival when they return to action on Tuesday in Champaign against the Parkland Cobras.
“I hope this win can carry over,” Barney said. “It would be huge boost for our season to get a win against Parkland.”
