Busters have no trouble

There has been no question to just how deep the Garden City Community College men's soccer team is, and Tuesday's game with Barclay College showed why.

Taking just 13 members of the 24-man squad, including just three regular starters, the Broncbusters (8-0-1) extended their unbeaten streak to nine by blasting the Bears 7-1 in Haviland.

The three starters who made the trip were team captain Rey Ramirez, Derik Schmille and goalkeeper Josh Ermey. Buster coach Jeff Huffman said Ray Lewis played goalkeeper the entire game as Ermey made the trip only in case of an injury.

While the goal given up was just the second goal the Busters have allowed this season, the seven scores tied a season high.

Freshman Elbin Palen-cia recorded a hat trick with three goals, and added one assist.

"We wanted to get the reserves in and let our starters get some rest," said Huffman, whose team plays at Dodge City today and at No. 4 ranked Johnson County on Friday. "The big thing was to get (the reserves) 90 minutes, and develop the team's depth."

After Palencia scored the first goal in the game's 16th minute, Jesus Carrillo scored 11 minutes later for the Busters' only other goal in the first half.

The Busters scored two goals in the first 25 minutes of the second half before Barclay forward Jared Haley spoiled the shutout with a goal in the 70th minute. The goal was the first scored on GCCC since Dodge City in the first game of the season Aug. 28.

Following the Barclay goal, Garden City High School grad Hugo Blanco scored for the Busters in the 84th minute, and Palencia added the final tally two minutes later.