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Men's Soccer

Ndubueze scores twice, leads T-Birds past Pratt Community College

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PRATT, Kansas — The No. 14 ranked Cloud County Community College men's soccer team wrapped up a least a share of the Jayhawk West conference title Wednesday following a 2-1, come-from-behind road victory over Pratt Community College.

With the win, the undefeated T-Birds (11-0-1 overall, 8-0-1 KJCCC) completed their five-game road swing a spotless 5-0 and now own a three-game lead over Pratt (6-5-1 overall, 4-3 KJCCC) and Barton Community College (6-3 overall, 3-3 KJCCC) with three conference games remaining for the T-Birds. A loss for either Barton or Pratt, or one more Cloud County win, clinches the Jayhawk West.

"To be a top team in the nation you have to win on the road and win back-to-back games," said Cloud County head coach, James Ross. Cloud County defeated Hesston College, 6-0, 24 hours prior. "That's why I set up the schedule up this way. These kids have been perfect on the road besides the tie against (Dodge City Community College) and I'm fine with that tie in Dodge City."

The win wouldn't come easy as just six minutes into the game the Beavers took a 1-0 lead, which they'd cling to much of the first half.

"It was a free kick from about 40 yards out. We made a mistake coming out of the goal, trying to jump against a six-foot-five kid to punch the ball out, and it got over our keeper's head," Ross said. "That goal gave (Pratt) so much life. We had to claw back into it."

Cloud would get on the board with six minutes left in the first half when freshman Ryan Medilah fed fellow freshman James Ndubueze to tie the game at 1-1 and get the momentum back on the T-Birds' side.

The duo connected again 10 minutes into the second half, with Ndubueze scoring his fifth goal of the season, to give Cloud County a 2-1 lead that it wouldn't relinquish. For Ndubueze, the goal tied him with redshirt freshman Aleksandar Pumpalovic for the team lead and each of his five goals have come in the past seven games.

 "He's 100 percent healthy now and is a top-5 forward in the nation," said Ross, referring to Ndubueze. "Today was his best game of the season. James was the man of the match all day and he's really coming into his own. He's a force to be reckoned with up top."

The T-Birds will get a chance to rest up with the five days off before hosting Northwest Kansas Technical College at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

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