Tigers clinch conference title with 3-0 win at Coffeyville

Conference champions! The No. 8-ranked Cowley College men's soccer team scored three goals in a four-minute span of the second half to defeat Coffeyville 3-0 and clinch the Jayhawk Conference title on Wednesday in Coffeyville.

Coffeyville played its midfield and defenders deep, making it difficult for the Tigers to break the Red Ravens' defensive line. However, once Cowley broke through for its first goal with 16 minutes remaining, it opened the floodgates.

Once the final seconds ticked off the clock, the Tiger players mobbed each other in celebration of the conference title.

"Our guys have been resilient all season, and I am really proud of them," Cowley head coach Ruy Vaz said. "Winning the conference title is one of our goals, and bringing home another piece of hardware to Ark City is big for us, especially doing it at Coffeyville."

Cowley (10-1-2) improves its record to 8-0-2 in the Jayhawk Conference with two conference games remaining. Coffeyville (2-9-4) falls to 1-6-2 in the conference.

The Tigers' first goal came when Carmelo Bello scored his fifth goal of the season off an assist from Joao Magalhaes. Three minutes later, freshman Kanta Ishii rocketed home a goal that was assisted by Inaki Lambarri. The goal was the fourth of the season for Ishii.

One minute after Ishii's goal, sophomore Shogo Haraikawa capped the scoring by netting his seventh goal of the season off an assist from Jin Tokishi.

The shutout was the sixth of the season for Tiger goalkeeper Kamy Ndione.

Cowley will now prepare to play at Barton Community College on Saturday at 1 p.m. before finishing the regular season with a home game against Kansas City on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

"These last two games will be tricky because our guys cannot get complacent," Vaz said. "Although we have clinched the conference title, we still have to fight for the rankings. It will be another test to see how we respond mentally. We will prepare for these next two games as if we have not won the conference championship."