SFCC men’s soccer edges Mineral Area for Region 16 title

Published 7:30 pm Monday, November 2, 2026

By Jack Denebeim

Ten years after its revival, State Fair Community College men’s soccer has reached the top of Region 16.

The No. 3-seeded Roadrunners captured their first regional championship since the resumption of the program with a 1-0 victory over top-seeded Mineral Area College on Saturday, Oct. 31, in Park Hills. It marked SFCC’s first Region 16 championship game appearance since 1999, prior to the program being suspended in 2002 and later restarted in 2016.

“It’s great,” acting head coach Jesus Gonzalez said. “It’s great to be with the team right now. I’m happy for the organization, for the school and all the people who have been helping the program all year long.”

Gonzalez said the key to victory was capitalizing on rare scoring chances.

“The moments we attacked, we took advantage of the opportunities that we had,” Gonzalez said. “It was a close match, so we didn’t have that many chances. Scoring at least one out of the three was pretty good, and not allowing them to have any chances.”

After a scoreless first half, freshman Vijay Valcin provided the go-ahead goal in the 65th minute.

Valcin received a pass from sophomore Malachai Bonney, found space at the top of the 18-yard box and fired a shot to the bottom right corner of the net. The ball snuck past a diving Mineral Area goalkeeper for the goal.

“We try to look at Vijay a lot,” Gonzalez said. “We know he can win those 1-v-1s. We were really happy he got that chance and took advantage of that.”

Freshman Victor Soares earned the shutout in the goal for State Fair (11-5-1).

After the match, Gonzalez was named the Region 16 Coach of the Year.

Gonzalez has been filling in for Michael Poropat since mid-September.

“It feels good,” Gonzalez said. “I’m really happy for the team and the group.”

Bonney, Valcin and freshman Raheem Raeburn received All-Region 16 First Team honors, while Soares and freshman Kelroy Peters earned Second Team honors.

The Roadrunners reached the championship match with a 4-3 double-overtime win over No. 2-seeded St. Charles Community College during the semifinal round on Oct. 27.

Bonney scored the game-winning goal in that match, converting on a free kick early in the second overtime period.

Raeburn scored a pair of goals in regulation, while sophomore Seth Jones added one. Raeburn and Valcin each recorded an assist.

“That was a crazy match, to be honest,” Gonzalez said. “They had chances to score, and Victor was super great that game. We had our chance and we took advantage of that. I think that match was more complicated than the final.”

Raeburn scored four goals throughout the tournament, including two against No. 6-seeded Metropolitan Community College in the quarterfinal round on Oct. 24.

Valcin and Jones each had goals in that match as well.

With the championship secured, SFCC advances to the Central District Tournament. The semifinal will take place Friday, Nov. 6, while the championship will be held Saturday, Nov. 7.

As of Monday morning, State Fair’s opponent had yet to be determined.

“Thank you to everybody who is supporting the program, and hopefully we can get more,” Gonzalez said.

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