SFCC men’s soccer earns No. 3 seed in Region 16 Tournament

Published 12:39 am Sunday, October 18, 2026

State Fair Community College men’s soccer feels it is hitting its stride at exactly the right time.

Winning three of their last four matches dating back to Sept. 28, the Roadrunners carry a high level of confidence into the Region 16 Tournament as the No. 3 seed.

“They’ve finally found a rhythm,” acting head coach Jesus Gonzalez said. “They’re starting to play together, and the more they play together, the easier it gets for them. Hopefully we can keep that going for the remaining matches we have.”

The Roadrunners (8-5-1, 3-2 Region 16) dropped to the No. 3 seed in the region following a 4-2 loss to Mineral Area College on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

Mineral Area (5-8-2, 4-1) and St. Charles Community College (9-3-5, 3-1-1) earned the top two seeds and automatic first-round byes.

State Fair will host No. 6-seeded Metropolitan Community College (3-10-3, 0-4-1) in the Region 16 Tournament quarterfinals at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, with the winner advancing to play St. Charles on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

No. 4 East Central College (5-5-3, 3-2) and No. 5 St. Louis Community College (2-10-1, 1-4) will square off in the other quarterfinal game for the right to play Mineral Area.

The Region 16 Championship match is set for Oct. 31, with the higher remaining seed hosting.

“We’re looking forward to it, we can’t wait to get to [the postseason],” State Fair freshman Michael Perez-Hornsby said. “The competition’s good — it’s high level, so we just need to up our standards and match it.”

SFCC earned a 2-1 victory over Metropolitan in their first meeting on Sept. 22.

In that match, freshmen Vijay Valcin and Raheem Raeburn each scored a goal to build a 2-0 lead for the Roadrunners before the Wolves added a goal with less than five minutes remaining to pull close.

Since then, the Roadrunners, who received votes in the most recent NJCAA Division II national rankings, have increased their offensive production, scoring 16 goals in their last four matches.

The Roadrunners scored a season-high six goals in a 6-2 win over East Central on Oct. 2.

“[Our] passes, connecting, movement of the ball,” freshman Vijay Valcin said on what has led to the recent scoring surge. “We have runners making runs and getting crosses in, and we just finish and score goals.”

For Valcin and the Roadrunners, the late-season boost has provided a spark in confidence heading into postseason play.

“I think it’s a really good thing,” Valcin said. “It sends a message to others that State Fair’s not only there to participate, but we’re here to win trophies and make a statement.”

While confidence and momentum builds belief, Gonzalez said the postseason is a clean slate for everyone.

“That gives us confidence to go for it in the playoffs,” Gonzalez said. “Everybody starts from zero, and you just have to win.”

Sports editor Jack Denebeim can be reached at 660-530-0142.