Falcons Win Southeast District and Qualify for National Tournament
Perseverance and Resiliency are two words that are being used to describe the Daytona State College Falcons ability to push through for Saturday's victory against the Eastern Florida State College Titans. This match was unlike any other the Falcons have played this year and it took every bit of heart for them to come away with the win. This was the 4th time this season that the two teams met but the level of competitive play during the match was unparalleled to any other. "You can't coach what happened here today," says head coach Bart Sasnett. "The win came from heart and these boys gave it everything they had."
The match, which lasted 120 minutes plus penalty kicks, eventually ended with the Falcons raising the trophy high.
The first half was nothing short of spectacular play from both teams. The Falcons and the Titans came out firing on all cylinders wanting the win. Daytona got on the board first with a header from sophomore and captain Brandon Berg. The Titans answered right back with a goal from Alex Alexis to tie it up 1-1. The game went into halftime with the scored tied.
As the 2nd half began, Daytona came out with the momentum and started taking as many shots as they could. Instead of Daytona getting a goal, Eastern's Danilo Orsi-Dadomo got one chance and put it away, making the score now 1-2. With time running out and the game nearing an end in the 80th minute, freshman Donovan Segree rocketed a shot into the side of the net tying up the match for Daytona.
After 90 minutes of regulation time, the Falcons and Titans were going into "golden goal" overtime. Head coach Bart Sasnett, just like every game, gave the Falcons the inspirational speech that they needed going into OT. After 20 minutes of strenuous overtime, the game was still tied 2-2 and for the first time this season, the Falcons were going to penalty kicks.
All Coach Sasnett could do now was send 10 players to take penalties, everything else was out of his control. Coach Sasnett trusted assistant coach Travis Rovillo to come up with the PK shooters. Sasnett made the decision of going with sophomore local Jesse Della Porta to be the keeper in the penalty shootout. "Jesse is known as a keeper who can save penalties in big games," said captain Brandon Berg. Sophomore goalkeeper Palemon Plancarte played the entire match for the Falcons, including both overtime periods. "He is an incredible keeper and he played an extraordinary match," said Sasnett. "His performance was unmatched and he kept us in the game on many occasions." "Jesse was rested and ready to go, and I knew he was ready to make the big saves." Plancarte recorded 17 saves in the match, only allowing 2 goals.
The players that were chosen to take penalties for Daytona were: Bryan Mejia; Dylan Burke; Marko Tomic; Quam Salami; Ryan Sandidge; Brandon Berg; Tyler Hall; Ryan Goldsmith; Jahnazae Swan; Rory O'Keefe.
The rules for PK's is that each team will alternate five penalty kicks. But if one team is not ahead on goals after these five kicks, the shootout will proceed to sudden death, and that is exactly what happened.
The first penalty kick is usually what sets the tone for the remainder of the shootout and this time was no different. The Titans were awarded the first PK and their captain Craig McCall was up to take it. With pressure and anxiety building, McCall shot the ball and Della Porta dove and saved it. That was all the Falcons needed to persevere through this shootout.
The Falcons, having a collective high level of team focus, continued to keep their heads fixated on the task at hand which lead to them putting so many balls in the back of the net. Since the first 5 penalty kicks ended on a tie, the remaining 5 shooters were now in sudden death PK's. When it came to Eastern's 9th shooter, Della Porta psyched him out and the shot ended up over the goal. All the Falcons had to do now was make a shot and they would win. Freshman Jahnazae Swan, calm and collected, walked down the field to the penalty spot. As he approached the spot, he looked over at the bench with confidence. With the pressure of the game on his shoulders, he shot the ball and placed it right into the back of the net. The Falcons rushed the field in excitement.
"This experience is surreal," says Sasnett. "I couldn't be more proud of this group of guys and they deserve this."
The Falcons, who are the Region 8 Champions and also still ranked 8th in the NJCAA, are now the Southeast District Champions and with this victory are invited to the NJCAA Division 1 National Tournament held in Tyler, Texas.
The Falcons are awaiting their group and seed placement for the tournament which is held at Tyler Junior College at Pat Hartley Soccer Complex on November 14-19.