Ishii, Tokishi named KJCCC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year
Dodge City Community College Head Men’s Soccer Coach Juan Espinal has been named Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Division 1 Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year, while Cowley College players Kanta Ishii and Jin Tokishi have been named KJCCC Division 1 Men’s Soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.
Juan Espinal – Dodge (KJCCC Division 1 Men's Soccer Coach of the Year)
After finishing sixth in the KJCCC last year, Espinal has helped resurrect a Conquistador program that finished third this season and secured their first home NJCAA Plains District Tournament match for the second time in three seasons following a third-place finish in the KJCCC. Spending most of the year ranked in the NJCAA Division 1 men's soccer top 20 poll, Dodge City picked up two wins over top 10 opponents and was ranked as high as number 11 in the NJCAA men's soccer rankings, the highest ranking in program history.
Kanta Ishii – Cowley (KJKCCC Division 1 Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Year)
Repeating as KJCCC D1 Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Year, Ishii finished second in the KJCCC in goals scored (11) despite playing in only 13 games and ranked second in both assists (six) and total points (28). The sophomore took a league-best 54 total shots, ranking eighth nationally in shots, 18th in game-winning goals (3), 19th in goals, and 21st in total points.
Jin Tokishi – Cowley (KJKCCC Division 1 Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Year)
An everyday starter for the Tigers, Tokishi helped a Cowley defense that allowed a total of eight goals this season, and the team won seven of its 12 matches by shutout. Cowley allowed more than one goal just once this season (October 1st at Coffeyville) and had a goals-against average of 0.58 to rank third nationally in goals allowed and goals-against average while posting the 15th most shutouts of the 78 NJCAA D1 men's soccer programs.
Cowley College All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Selections:
FIRST TEAM
Jin Tokishi, defender, Cowley College; Rikito Takeuchi, defender, Cowley College; Kanta Ishii, forward, Cowley College; Renan Syrio, forward, Cowley College; Nino Inchico, midfielder, Cowley College; Lukas Lowry, goalkeeper, Cowley College.
SECOND TEAM
Yushin Nakano, defender, Cowley College; Leonard Leitao, midfielder, Cowley College.