In yesterday's match-up between the Yavapai College Men's Soccer team versus the Eastern Arizona College Gila Monsters, the two teams battled hard in the hot September heat. With not a cloud in the sky, the Roughriders were able to shine bright for their adoring fans in their 4-0 win over the visiting Gila Monsters from Thatcher.
    Early in the game, both teams were very evenly matched, as many shots from the visiting purple team were able to be blocked from Goalkeeper #99 Maximiliano Ionita. Some defensive efforts early on were contributed from #18 Carlos Rodriguez, #19 Kodee Karcher, and #20 Ricardo Juarez, as some high powered offensive shot creation had come from #11 Anthony Khananisho, #17 Jacob Vincent, and Karcher, able to get things done on both ends. Some more shots from #3 Gio Orozco and #14 Brandon Fischer helped keep the offensive intensity high, and this would lead to Yavapai's first goal, scored by Anthony Khananisho, with a helpful assist from #5 Nate Claudio. With some more saves from Ionita and more shot attempts from Karcher, there would be no more scoring in the first half.
    In the second half, the scoring increased heavily, as well as the offensive efforts on both sides. Ionita had a couple more close call saves, as well as some assisting defensive efforts from #15 Michael Ochoa. #24 Ian Lama would take a couple of shots at the goal, and one of them would even find its way to the back of the net for Yavapai's second goal! #7 David Murillo would try to increase the lead to three points but missed, and #22 Dante Espino-Kennedy even had an open shot at the goal but missed as well. Meanwhile, Ionita was making goalkeeping look like an easy task, as he was making various clutch save after clutch save. These saves led to a Jacob Vincent goal, for goal number three, and Ionita would get to take a much needed break as #2 Brendan Heck would sub in for him. Some more Kodee Karcher shots, as well as some shots from #23 Eduardo Noriega, but the final goal would come from #4 Erick Quirarte, with an assist coming from a well-placed corner kick from Khananisho, all within the last minute of the game. Yavapai would sweep their competition and win this game, 4-0.