Blue Devil soccer team is back

Published 8:04 pm Tuesday, August 24, 2010

The Blue Devil men’s soccer team is back for its second year of competition and it’s hoping for an improved effort.

Ulegbek Jamaev works on his skills at Riverland soccer practice Tuesday. The Blue Devils are set for the second season of having a men’s soccer team. --Rocky Hulne/rocky.hulne@austindailyheral.com

Riverland brings back two players from last year’s team — Miguel Cisneros and Tan Do.

But its one of the new players that has RCC head coach Soner Dogan excited.

Email newsletter signup

The team will feature Brent McDonald of Fairmont at keeper.

“Last year we didn’t have a keeper who played on a high school varsity team. Now we have one and that’s very important,” Dogan said.

The Blue Devils also will look to Tom Lindsey, who played soccer at St. Mary’s last season to lead the way, while Owatonna grad Derek Halla and Ulegbek Jamaev, who is from Uzbekistan, should contribute as well.

“We have a brand new team and we’re very excited,” Dogan said. “It will be a better team than last year and it will be a good season. We want to play more of an attacking style and we want to be competitive.”

RCC will play games in Albert Lea and Austin this year, and they will play one contest in Owatonna.

The Blue Devils will open their home schedule with a Sept. 2 game against Crossroads in Austin at Larry Gilbertson Track and Field at 4 p.m.