Seven players score in Tigers’ 7-0 road win at KCK

Letting out the frustration of an uncharacteristic three-game losing skid, the No. 10-ranked Cowley College men's soccer team scored six second-half goals in a 7-0 win at Kansas City Kansas Community College in its final game of the regular season played Saturday in Kansas City, Kansas.

Cowley (12-4) finished second in the Jayhawk Conference behind sixth-ranked Barton County as the Tigers went 8-4 in conference play, and the Cougars are 8-1-2 heading into its regular season finale against Seward County.

"It was a relief to have a glimpse of what we could be," Cowley head coach Ruy Vaz said. "Winning the conference was our first goal, so we still have a kind of sour taste in our mouth."

On Saturday, sophomore Bruno Fornes scored his first goal of the season off an assist from Mate Kenyares to give the Tigers a 1-0 halftime lead.

The score would remain 1-0 until Sora Funakoshi scored off a penalty kick, increasing Cowley's lead to 2-0 15 minutes into the second half. The goal by Funakoshi was his team-leading 11^th of the season.

The Tigers would score five goals in the final 15 minutes of Saturday's game. Kenyares and Shogo Haraikawa scored their sixth goals of the year, Carlos Noboa added his fifth goal of the season, Leo Jaukovic chipped in with his fourth goal, while Israel Anima scored his first collegiate goal.

After three straight one-goal defeats, the Tigers scored their most goals in a conference game this season.

"The guys were relieved," Vaz said. "It was good to have a response like this and channel our energy in the right way before the playoffs. It was also good for Bruno and Israel to get that first goal out of the way. I am very happy for them."

Cowley will be the second seed in the Region VI Playoffs and will host either Seward County (8-6-3) or Coffeyville (7-6-4) on Saturday at a time yet to be announced. The winner will face the champion of Region 16 in the semifinals.

"Scoring goals will be the key," Vaz said. "It comes down to putting the ball in the back of the net."

Photo Credit: Aigiza Nasyrova