Sophomore striker Brayan Rodriguez, left, made the All-America second team. (photo by Bill Roa)

by Wade Marbaugh

Georgia Perimeter’s men’s soccer team racked up a 14-2-3 record, climbing to No. 8 nationally and sending two players to the All-America team.

The quality of the Jaguars was so impressive, it carried the team’s rating above six teams who went to nationals even though a heartbreaking postseason loss kept GPC’s team out of the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament.

Georgia Perimeter College tied Eastern Florida State College 2-2 in the fall Region 8-Region 17 championship match, but the team from the Sunshine State was the one to advance to the NJCAA tournament. The Jaguars came up short in the double-overtime, penalty-kick marathon.

After the Jaguars rallied to tie the match twice, and the regulation draw wasn’t broken by two 10-minute overtimes, the Titans bested GPC 3-1 in penalty kicks.

“We’ve lost four or five of those in the postseason over the years,” said head coach Marc Zagara. “Before the game, (a webcaster) asked what would be the keys to the game and I said, ‘You have to have a little luck.’ We didn’t.”

Still, the final NJCAA poll, issued after the national tournament, ranked Georgia Perimeter No. 8, finishing higher than six teams who advanced to nationals.

Sophomore standouts Brayan Rodriguez and Jordan Dunstan were named to the NJCAA All-America team. Rodriguez, a forward, was named to the All-America second team, while Dunstan, a defender, made the third team.

Rodriguez scored 15 goals and 16 assists for 46 points, leading Region 17 of the NJCAA in assists and ranking second in points and third in goals. The region coaches named him Co-MVP of the conference and placed him on the All-Region 17 first team.

Dunstan, who also was named to the All-Region 17 first team, had two assists, dominated attackers, went high on headers, had a very powerful leg and threw in from near midfield to the penalty box like it’s a free kick.

GPC dominated the conference honors. Kyle Johnston and Oumar Mbodj joined Dunstan and Rodriguez on the 11-man All-Region 17 first team, while Diego Fagundez, Kioki Hutchings and T.J. Carter were selected to the second team.

Named to the region all-tournament team along with Dunstan and Rodriguez were Hutchings and Mbodj.

Read more about Jaguar men’s soccer.

Sophomore defender Jordan Dunstan made the All-America third team. (photo by Gerald Moulder).