DAYTONA BEACH — Josue Youta stretched out his arms, ran toward the crowd and then blew a few kisses.
The sophomore forward had just pivoted and fired a shot right past the Mohave College goalkeeper, extending Daytona State’s lead to 3-1 in the NJCAA semifinals Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Falcons’ home stadium. That stuck as the final score.
For the first time in Daytona State history, its men’s soccer team (15-2-2) is headed to the national finals. It will play Indian Hills Community College at 3 p.m. Saturday at DSC.
“It feels great,” said Cale Saunders, a sophomore defender from right down the road in New Smyrna Beach. “This group of guys has put a lot of effort, a lot of work in this season. I’m beyond grateful for the team, for the coaches, for everybody.”
The Bighorns actually broke through first.
With 20 minutes left in the opening half, Lazzar Ramos rose over a Falcons defender and headed the ball into the right side of the net. Erik Nava earned the assist.
Five and a half minutes later, Daytona State answered.
Youta drew a foul in the box, setting up a penalty kick. He powered it past Mohave goalie Chase Radford to knot the proceedings 1-1. That stayed the score through halftime.
Less than six minutes into the second, freshman midfielder Santiago Apolaro bounced the ball over Radford, who had slipped, to tally his second goal of the season and the Falcons’ second of the afternoon.
Daytona State controlled the second half.
“Our game plan today was to utilize our depth,” coach Joe Avallone said. “We have a lot of depth on this team.”
Avallone made seven substitutions in the first half and eight in the second. The Falcons used 18 players while the Bighorns, who began subbing late, deployed 16. It resulted in Daytona State outshooting Mohave 10-8 and outscoring it 2-0 in the second half.
“I trust these boys,” Avallone said.
Youta provided the third and final goal with 22 minutes to go. He paces the squad with 14 goals this year.
“When it got back to me, I did not think,” Youta said. “I just saw the ball. I did not even look at the goal. I just struck it. I just struck it good.
And the celebration?
“It was for everybody,” he said.
Each team racked up 15 shots, and each keeper collected four saves. Sophomore Matthew McCall kept the Bighorns scoreless after the first-half goal.
Now, the Falcons move on to Indian Hills. The Warriors reached the title game by beating Cowley in the semifinals.
“I’m excited,” Youta said, “to make history for the program.”
Daytona State women’s soccer team also advances to national championship
During the men’s game at Daytona State Thursday, an announcement came over the loud speaker.
Yes, the Falcons were also going to the national finals in the women’s bracket. Daytona State, the defending NJCAA champion, prevailed over Cowley 2-1 in overtime in Enid, Oklahoma.
It will face Arizona Western for the championship for the second consecutive year. The contest is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday in Enid.
The Falcons hold a perfect 19-0 record.
Sophomore forward Sienna Gillespie got them rolling with a goal 33 minutes into the showdown with Cowley. She was assisted by sophomore midfielder Shaneil Buckley and freshman forward Susu Roberts.
But in the final moments of the first half, Cowley’s Sara Cortes leveled the score at 1-1 with a penalty kick.
Neither club scored in the second half.
It didn’t take long for Daytona State to change that in overtime, though. Buckley gave the Falcons the winning goal off an assist by sophomore midfielder Morgan Long and redshirt sophomore forward Vanessa Manoil.
Daytona State has not lost since September 2024. Its win streak sits at 34.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona State men’s and women’s soccer teams advance to NJCAA finals
Reporting by Chris Vinel, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
