Pratt, Kan. - The Pratt Community College men's soccer team kicked of the National Junior College Athletic Association Region VI playoffs tonight, October 26 against Central Community College. This was the third meeting between the Raiders of Central and the Beavers. In the first meeting the Beavers won 4-3 in OT at home and in the second meeting the game ended in a 3-3 tie after two overtime periods.
The game started off slow as Pratt held the upper hand throughout the first half, but the game remained tied 0-0 at halftime. With 24 minutes left in the game, the Raiders put the first points on the board. About ten minutes later, Central would take a 2-0 advantage. With the Beavers season on the line and the clock winding down all of a sudden like a shifting motion of the wind the momentum swung and Pratt would go on to score three straight goals. The first came at 12:20 left in the game, the tying goal came at the 10:52 mark, with the game winning goal coming at 2:41 left in the game. Freshman Gabriel Dias Juliani was credited with all three goals and finished his season at the Pratt Soccer Complex with a hat trick. His first of the season.
"For me it's a very happy moment," said Dias Juliani. "I always believe in my team and I knew after the first goal we would be able to go win."
The Beavers will travel to Iola, KS on Saturday, October 29 to face the Allen County Red Devils for the NJCAA Region VI Championship. Game time is set for 4:00 PM. The Beavers and the Red Devils split in their two-game series this season with Pratt winning 2-0 at home and then losing 2-1 on the road. Pratt will be playing for back-to-back Region VI Championships.