The Iowa Community College Athletic Conference has announced the All Conference teams for the 2017 soccer season. This season Indian Hills Community College had four players selected to the first team, Iowa Western Community College had three players selected and Marshalltown Community College and Iowa Central Community College each had two representatives on the team. The Tigers also had two players selected to the Second Team and two players selected for Honorable Mention.
Selected to this year's First Team All-Conference was sophomores Kino Ryosuke and Eneko Lasheras. Ryosuke has had a historic run as a Tiger breaking the MCC career goals record with 41 while recording 23 goals in his sophomore campaign. His 23 goals is second best in the conference and eighth in the country. Coach Fuchsen had high praise for his sophomore forward stating, "Kino's work rate, discipline, and commitment to excellence, has been his key to success. Kino has a refined technical ability, and a natural goal scorer's mentality that has allowed him to score 41 goals during his two years at MCC. Kino has simply been great!"
Eneko Lasheras had a productive year playing as the Tigers center midfielder as he tallied seven goals and five assists. Coach Fuchsen commented on the star midfielder's talents, "Eneko is a superior student of the game. Technically, and tactically he is a very powerful player who has that natural ability to takeover a game."
Two other Tigers were designated Second Team All-Conference in freshmen Rafael Ramos and Rafael Vacas. Ramos was a dominant defender in his freshmen season as he consistently stopped attacking offenses. "Rafael has been dominant for us this past season anchoring our back line," stated Coach Fuchsen. "His ability to read plays, and destroy offenses, as well as distribute out of the back has made him a very valuable player." Freshman Rafael Vacas had a great year for the Tigers distributing the ball around the net efficiently as he recorded 11 assists while scoring five goals. Vacas will be a critical part of next year's team as he is one of the few freshmen that have seen significant playing time.
The Tigers also had two players named All-Conference Honorable Mention in sophomores David Kromah and Juan Gonzalez. Kromah played alongside Kino Ryosuke at forward this past season recording seven goals and two assists. "David's ability to hold up the play in the attack, as well as his speed to get behind defenses makes David very dangerous for opposing teams," stated Coach Fuchsen. Sophomore Juan Gonzalez played over 1300 minutes in the goal this season recording two shutouts with 52 saves. Coach Fuchsen commented on Gonzalez's effect on the team stating, "Juan has that special ability to make very difficult saves, with very quick reactions. His presence in the goal adds confidence to his team."
The MCC Tigers finished the season 13-3 after losing to Iowa Western Community College in the Region XI Semifinal. The Tigers were a perfect 7-0 at home this season and 6-3 on the road with losses from Iowa Lakes Community College, and Iowa Western Community College in the last game of the regular season and in the semifinal matchup. Next season the Tigers will return two Second Team All-Conference selections in Rafael Ramos and Rafael Vacas who will be vital if the Tigers will make the push to the National Tournament.
