Apaches News
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 - [Men's Soccer]
By CHRIS PARRY
Staff Writer, Tyler Morning Telegraph

At the final whistle, Tyler Junior College players fumed while Barton County rejoiced.

The defending national champions could've won in an onslaught as the Apaches hit each goal post, had a second-half goal called back on an offside and outshot Barton County CC by 12.
  
In the end, the teams shared the spoils as the match finished 0-0 Saturday at Pat Hartley Soccer Complex.

"That's the way it looks in the beginning of the season a lot of times," said TJC head coach Steve Clements. "We obviously had our chances. Our depth, we were able to get down there and create some opportunities and some nights it just doesn't drop for you."

TJC sophomore forward Dom Dwyer could've had a hat trick in regulation alone while also being denied with a great save from Barton County keeper Nathan Garrison with 45 seconds remaining in the second overtime.

"He was just off the mark a couple times," Clements said of Dwyer. "He was our leading scorer last year and those will drop for him."

In the first half, Dwyer rocketed a shot off Garrison and the post before sending an open header off a corner kick into the other post.

He received a gift when a Barton County defender misjudged a back pass with Dwyer beating Garrison to it. But with a gaping goal, he pulled his shot wide. Dwyer fired another blast that brought out the best in Garrison with three minutes to go in regulation.

He looked to finally have the breakthrough a minute later when he waited at the back post to head into an open net off a cross from Anis Abdulgasem. The celebrations were halted by the linesman's flag for offside.

Barton County's best scoring chance occurred just before halftime when Ahmad Bah stole the ball and raced down the wing, crossing into the box for Kevin Ellis. His shot flew over the bar thanks to the challenge by TJC's Rafael Amaya.

The Apaches are back in action at 2 p.m. today against Jefferson College at Pat Hartley Complex.

Notes:

San Jacinto defeated Jefferson College 2-0 Saturday.