Schedule / Results

Men's Select Competitive Team

Practices are Tuesdays, 7:30pm-10pm & Saturdays, 8am-10am. Practice attendance is required. Inability to attend will disqualify you from participation. Games are typically Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons.

Intramural Futsal - Spring 2013

Play begins the first week in February. Games will be on Tuesdays, 4:45pm - 7:15pm in TA Gym, Central Campus. Come for fun! No soccer experience necessary!

The select team of the CPCC Soccer Club took a break from league competition March 23-24 to participate in the “Kicks 4 Cancer” soccer tournament.  With all tournament proceeds going to cancer research, the event represented an opportunity for the men of CPCC to not only test themselves against club teams from major colleges and universities in the Carolinas and Virginia, but to perform community service.  Hosted by UNCC, the tournament featured club teams from UNCC, CPCC, Appalachian State, Clemson, Virginia Tech, James Madison University, NC State, and a local Charlotte men’s club (HOSA) . The teams were split into 2 groups, with the winner of each group advancing to a single elimination stage leading to a champion.  CPCC was placed in Group A along with UNCC, James Madison, and NC State.  Appalachian State, Clemson, Virginia Tech, and HOSA comprised Group B.

The Tigers first match of the weekend was 9:30AM Saturday, March 23, 2013, tilt against the host team from UNCC.  Though located a mere 10 miles from one another, the clubs have only met on the field a total of five times, with the most recent meeting taking place nearly ten years ago, ending in a controversial 1-0 sudden death overtime win for UNCC, preserving their perfect all-time win streak over the Tigers. Whether owing to the series’ history, CPCC’s status as the only two-year college in the field, the Tigers unfamiliarity with the competition, or some other factor, the perception openly shared by some on the host club that CPCC would be the easiest win in group play was perhaps understandable.

Presented the chance to change perceptions and make series history, the young Tigers from CPCC asserted themselves in the opening 15 minutes by setting a furious pace and creating multiple goal scoring opportunities.  While producing no first half goals to show for their efforts, the Tigers had clearly succeeded in putting their stamp on the match.

Following the break, CPCC continued setting the pace, dominating possession for long stretches.  In the 68^th minute, Hector Mera broke through with a goal worthy of being celebrated by all soccer-loving CPCC students-a stunning one touch strike from 8 yards out on a terrific through ball sent from Meshach Sarkorh.  The Tigers would successfully turn back UNCC’s final desperate attacks to hold on for the 1-0 victory, recording their second shutout of the 2012-13 campaign and a special place in club history as the first to record a win versus UNCC.

The Tigers next match was against the physically imposing club from NC State.  With a roster filled with players larger at nearly every position, the team representing the only ACC school in Group A seemed poised to physically impose themselves on the slightly smaller pitch.  Meshach Sarkorh quickly changed the equation in the third minute, however, scoring on the Tigers’ first shot of the match on a brilliant chip from Jose Martinez.  The Wolfpack did manage to answer in the 28^th minute to level the match at 1-1, when a miscommunication in the Tigers’ back allowed superior numbers to the Wolfpack attack.

In the second half, the Tigers began to control the tempo with extended possessions, forcing the larger players from NC State into chase mode.   In the 62^nd minute, Jose Martinez produced the goal on an assist from Hector Mera that would ultimately win the match, though the Tigers defenders would need to turn back multiple scoring threats to preserve the 2-1 win.

As the only school to send an NCAA Division I team to compete in the tournament, James Madison was tabbed as the “club” that would dominate the field.  Results from their previous two matches, shutouts of NC State (3-0) and UNCC (5-0) bolstered this perception.  Although CPCC and JMU had identical records in group play, JMU held the tie breaker in terms of goal differential.  Only with a win would the Tigers advance.

A cold rain greeted the 8:00AM Sunday kickoff.  More importantly, several key absences were worrisome to CPCC’s chances.  An illness in the family of center midfielder and team captain Hector Mera prevented his participation, and starting defender Vannie Dunor was also unavailable.  Even so, the Tigers exuded a quiet confidence taking the field against their scholarship laden, Division I opponent.

The first half began at a frantic pace with JMU dominating possession in the middle third but being repeatedly frustrated in their probes into back of CPCC’s defense.  In the 17^th minute, JMU would strike on a breakaway opportunity created with a quick restart of a free kick.  This was followed by a second breakaway seven minutes later for a 2-0 score.  Onlookers unfamiliar with the heart of the Tigers, perhaps now expecting the rout was on must have been surprised when Wellington “Dino” Sawie’s unassisted shot from 25 yards out found the back of the JMU net.  Heads across the tournament field were turned almost as much at the news of a goal scored on the JMU side as by the 2-1 halftime score as CPCC’s reserve defenders slammed the door on the JMU attack for the remainder of the half for the 2-1 halftime score.

Although CPCC’s renewed confidence carried over into the second half as they dominated the run of play for the opening 15 minutes, no less than four significant scoring opportunities went unfinished.   James Madison ultimately regained their balance and scored on an uncontested strike from 28 yards out, giving them the separation they needed.  While the Tigers maintained their composure and continued to attack the JMU goal, the James Madison side managed to protect their two goal margin in the closing minutes for the 3-1 final to win the match and their group

Balanced assessments are rarely possible for any competitor in the immediate aftermath of defeat. Yet, as the young Tigers walked off the pitch on this cold, sodden Sunday morning, feelings of disappointment soon gave way to the reality of their accomplishment:  First win ever against UNCC’s Soccer Club, a win over the soccer club from the state’s largest university, and a competitive match against a side comprised of NCAA Division I scholarship players.  The disappointment Coach Dan Bailey acknowledged in the wake of the loss to James Madison was matched by gratitude to the young men of the Club who just represented CPCC students everywhere with such determination and heart.  Bailey said with a certainty, “We became a stronger team this weekend.  Any player who participated in this grew as a player a teammate, and most of all, a person.”