The Roberts Wesleyan University men’s soccer team has reached the semifinal round of the National Christian College Athletic Association Division I Nation Championship tournament.
The Redhawks scored all of their goals in the second half to overpower sixth-seeded Central Christian College (McPherson, Kansas) 3-0 on November 30 at the Austin-Tindall Sports Complex.
Roberts (10-4-6), which defeated Covenant College 3-2 on November 28, finished 2-0 in pool play. Roberts is seeded second in the semifinals and will play No. 3 Southwestern Christian University on December 2. Roberts has finished second at NCCAA’s twice in program history.
“We had kind of a slow start in the first half, but we really came on in the second half and took care of business,” Roberts coach Scott Reber said. “I am really happy for the boys.”
Junior Tamas Nagy scored twice in 2:55 as the Redhawks took control of the match and Justin Robertson put it away with a spectacular individual effort that saw him dribble more than 70 yards through the Tigers’ defense before banking his shot off the left post for his eighth goal of the season.
After a quiet first half, the Redhawks broke through in the 58th minute. Nathan Ferguson sent a long clear to the top of the Central Christian 18-yard-line where Nagy won the ball, cut to his left and fired a 15-yard shot into the net for his 14th goal of the season.
Nagy struck again less than three minutes later. Dylan Ruiz had his initial shot blocked by a defender, but the senior recovered the ball and sent it in front to Nagy for the finish and 2-0 lead.
“He’s really stepping up,” Reber said of Nagy, who is tied with Ruiz for the team lead in goals and also tops the Redhawks with 11 assists. “He has always had the ability and now he has the confidence, too. It’s really exciting and nice to see.”
Robertson completed the scoring in the 69th minute, picking up the ball along the sideline near the top of the Roberts’ box and going end-to-end, splitting three Central Christian defenders along the way, for one of the most spectacular strikes of the Redhawks’ season.
“When J-Rob gets a head of steam like that there is no stopping him,” Reber said.
Senior Jared Gibbons made two saves to record his fifth shutout of the season.
Reber credited defenders Ferguson, Benjamin Lazcano, and Pau Guillem Marzal for their efforts in maintaining the clean sheet.
“Our back line has really played well,” he said. “They are tough to break down.”
Provided information and photo
