'Runners Ride Defense to Semifinals

By GARY STALLARD

AC Athletics

            MOUNT PLEASANT – It took an all-out defensive effort from the Angelina College Roadrunners to hold off a tough Paris Junior College team – but as AC head coach Martin Melchor noted afterward, "the effort was there all match long."

            The Roadrunners broke open a scoreless draw with just six minutes to play, getting a tough goal from Albi Zyla off a corner kick from Shuto Ishikawa to help beat the Dragons 2-0 in Region XIV Conference Quarterfinal action Thursday in Mount Pleasant.

            Ishikawa would provide the final dagger when he scored with just three second remaining in regulation.

            The teams traded shots early before the entire match settled into a physical defensive battle on both ends. Neither team was able to muster many scoring chances over the first 84 minutes.

            Alba finally managed to head home a shot after Ishikawa's corner kick sailed into the box. Five minutes later, Ishikawa netted his first goal of the season to end the match with a 2-0 AC win.

            The Roadrunners (10-4-1) next travel on Tuesday to face No. 8 Blinn College in the conference semifinals in Brenham.

            The match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

            The email address for AC's Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.