Caliari’s Goal Seals Victory
Aug. 25, 2019, Sterling, Colo. — After claiming their first victory of the season, the Northeastern Junior College (NJC) Plainsmen hosted the Pratt Community College (PCC) Beavers in their second game of the weekend. The Plainsmen looked to continue their success from Friday, but needed to buckle down and play their game.
The first half the Plainsmen had to adjust as it was a much different game than their last. The refs were allowing the teams to play more, which favored the Plainsmen's style of play. Both teams pressured each other and had their opportunities to score, but were thwarted by the defense. At halftime, neither team netted a goal and the game remained a 0-0 game.
In the second, NJC was able to keep the ball in their offensive zone. The Plainsmen pressured the Beavers with shots on goal, but PCC was able to match the pressure and limit Northeastern's chances. The Plainsmen were bound to score a goal as they hunted time and time again with near misses of the crossbar. That time came in the 65th minute when a foul was called on PCC to give Paul Caliari a penalty kick. Caliari scored on the ensuing kick to give the Plainsmen a 1-0 lead. The physicality stayed persistent throughout the entirety of the game, but NJC adapted and overcame for the 1-0 victory.
The Plainsmen will be on the road on Wednesday as they travel to play Barton Community College in Kansas, then follow it up by playing Snow College on Saturday in Utah.