Written by Davin Mann

The Darton College men’s soccer team tied Tyler Community College (Tex.), 1-1, for a third place finish in Game 10 the NJCAA Championship today.

“It was an all-out war,” said Darton Head Coach Bart Sasnett. “It was probably the best soccer match we’ve had all year.”

Tyler CC was “all over” Darton during the first twenty or so minutes of the match, Sasnett said. The Texas program seemed to dominate much of the first half before Darton’s Troy Tucker would tie the game early in the second half.

“That kid – I can’t say enough good things about him,” Sasnett said of Tucker. “He’s always trying to find a way to help us win.”

Tucker is one of a dozen or so freshmen who stepped up to take on heavy roles for a Darton squad that found itself missing key sophomore players due to late-season injuries.

“It speaks volumes about these young men we have,” Sasnett said. “We have a bright future ahead of us.”

Cloud County Community College became the national champion today after beating Monroe College, 4-1, in the final.

“Any team that was in the final four could have won it,” Sasnett said. “All of these teams are unreal.”