May 20, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
There is a first time for everything!
Not only did the DCHS Tiger Boys Soccer Team defeat Cumberland County for the first time this season last Thursday after three previous meetings, but they claimed their first ever Region Tournament Championship in the process and will host their first ever Sub-State game Sunday, May 21 in Smithville.
The Tigers (11-5-1) will face the East Hamilton Hurricanes in a sub-state showdown Sunday at 5 p.m. on the “Dylan Kleparek Coach K Soccer Field” at DCHS in Smithville with a state tournament appearance on the line, which would also be a first for the Tiger Boys Soccer Program. WJLE will broadcast the game Sunday LIVE.
Coach K said the Tigers’ 2-0 victory at Cumberland County Thursday was sweet revenge after losing three times this season to the Jets by scores of 3-1 and 1-0 (twice).
“This is the first time we have ever won the Region Championship and it is a special thing. It was said they (Jets) were kryptonite (since we had lost to them three times this season) so I guess that makes us Superman because we found a way to beat them for the region championship. It was tough at the beginning of the season because they seemed to have our number mentally but when we figured out they were just another soccer team we were able to handle them,” said Coach K.
“We had a really good game Thursday against Cumberland County. We came out and executed the game plan. We worked down the channel on the right and made things happen. In the second half we buckled down and made sure we didn’t give anything up and played smart. I am proud of the guys because they came out and worked hard,” said Coach K.
Both DeKalb County and East Hamilton are led by a number of seniors which should make Sunday’s game an interesting matchup.
“Its our first sub-state home game and we are really excited and looking forward to it. We are hoping to have a big crowd. This game speaks for itself. When you get this far, the next step is state, but the guys are excited and we are ready to go,” Coach K said.
“We have done a little bit of scouting on them (Hurricanes). They have 9 seniors, and we have 10 seniors and all 10 of our seniors start. They have a couple of tall, fast guys who like to cross the ball and play to the back. We’re going to have to make sure we mark up well in the box and play our game. We need to play the small passing possession game we like to play and pick out our passes. If we do that and execute well, I think we have a good shot,” said Coach K.
2023 DCHS Tigers Soccer Roster
#2-Jonathan Balderas-Junior
#3-Cooper Brown -Senior
#4-Connor Hopkins-Freshman
#5-Brayan Aguirre-Sophomore
#6-Ekow Afful-Turkson-Junior
#7-Jonathan Zavala-Senior
#8-Miguel Mata-Senior
#9-Cameron Miller-Senior
#10-Yair Mata-Senior
#11-Adan Ramirez-Senior
#12-Axel Aranda-Sophomore
#13-Aydan Bean-Junior
#14-Jaxon Kleparek-Freshman
#15-Leo Delgado-Sophomore
#16-Emilio Garcia-Junior
#17-Hector Cervantes-Sophomore
#18-Brandon Silva-Senior
#19-Jose Guzman-Sophomore
#20-Milas Driver-Sophomore
#21-Ryder Miller-Senior
#23-Giovani Palomo-Freshman
#24-Jesus Guzman-Sophomore
#25-Bryan Ramirez-Sophomore
#26-Jonathan Garcia-Senior
#27-Cesar Gaspar-Junior
#28-Cale Brown-Sophomore
#29-Erick Hernandez-Sophomore
#30-Miguel Guzman-Sophomore
#31-Connor Vance-Senior
#32-Jack Gassaway-Freshman