MOHAVE COUNTY – Mohave Community College Men’s Soccer has recorded its first win of the inaugural season! The Bighorns topped Wyoming’s Gillette College 2-0 in non-conference play on Saturday, Aug. 24.
“It’s been two years dreaming of this moment and we’re finally here,” says Men’s Head Coach Camilo Valencia not only of the inaugural season but of the program’s first win. “I’m just so proud and thankful for everyone’s hard work over the past two years. Support staffs in Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City and Kingman, the crew at Firebird Field, the community and so many more worked so hard to make this happen.”
Valencia says Saturday’s matchup was no walk in the park for the Bighorns, especially given the fact that the contest marked the second game in nearly as many days. But the Bighorns fought fatigue, and the wind, to bring home the first-ever win for the inaugural men’s program.
“We were able to score two goals and we played really well, especially in the second half,” Valencia says. “Our guys stuck to the plan and it was a very professional win. They were fighting for each other the entire game.”
Jorge Quintero scored the first goal, unassisted, of the contest for the Bighorns in the eleventh minute. Luis Mario Medina notched the second goal off an assist from Mauricio Velazquez in minute 52. The Bighorns held onto that lead until the final whistle.
“It was a weird feeling because we had a scary injury at the end of the game,” Valencia says. “Our player, keeper Pablo Saavedra, is all right, but it was a weird moment because we were happy for the win but concerned for one of the members of our family. But it’s great to travel the 12 hours back home with a win.”
Valencia also expressed pride with respect to the way his players stepped up to the challenges of the day, such as keeper Yahir Acero coming in for the injured Saavedra. Valencia says that is the kind of mentality that yields success.
“Now we build on our momentum,” he says. “We had two good games and now we came out with a win on the road. We’re super excited to get home and see a packed Firebird Field for our first home game of the regular season.”
Next on the schedule for Mohave Community College Men’s Soccer is the first-ever home game of the inaugural regular season! The Bighorns will host Colorado Northwestern at Rotary Park’s Firebird Field in Bullhead City at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30.
“We have a group of guys that are giving everything they have to Mohave County to put us on the map,” Valencia says. “We have three local boys on the team who have put in a lot of work throughout their lives to be here and there’s a strong team alongside them. We want not only families at Friday’s game, but friends and the community that has been behind us this whole time. Let’s show visiting teams what it means to play in Bullhead City.”
Stay up-to-date with Mohave Community College Men’s Soccer at athletics.mohave.edu and https://www.instagram.com/mohavemsoccer/.
The Bighorns will host Colorado Northwestern at Rotary Park’s Firebird Field in Bullhead City at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30.