MELBOURNE, Fla., November 13, 2022 – It took more than 110 minutes to decide the first match of Pool C at the 2022 NJCAA Div. I Men's Soccer Championship at Orlando Health Stadium. After double overtime was not enough to determine a winner between No. 3 Monroe College and No. 10 Angelina College, the Mustangs came out on top in the penalty kick shootout, 4-2, to get their three points in the standings after a 0-0 draw.
The first half of Sunday's Pool C opener saw nearly all of the game's scoring chances, as the Mustangs put three shots on goal, while the Roadrunners managed two. There was not another shot put on net until Angelina attempted a shot late in the second overtime that slowly made its way to Monroe goalkeeper Johan Rodriguez for an easy stop. After neither team was able to get one in the net after 110 minutes, the game went to a penalty-kick shootout to determine which team picked up a crucial three points in the standings.
Monroe sent Diego Batista out first in the shootout, and he made his chance for a 1-0 lead. Angelina's Juan Lopez matched Batista to make it a 1-1 tie.
Round 2 of the shootout started with Cade Erickson, who succeeded on his attempt. Angelina's Aldair Chaves then missed wide left to leave the Mustangs up, 2-1.
Bruno Rosa was next up for Monroe, making his shot to put Monroe up by two goals, but Scott Gray scored on his shot for Angelina to stay within one.
Rodrigo Bacci Pereira Meira Arruda went fourth for the Mustangs, and put his shot in the low-right corner to make it a 4-2 lead for Monroe, needing just one stop for the win. Shamour McLean missed wide for the Roadrunners, giving the Mustangs the shootout win.
Rodriguez took over in net for Maurice Koenig during the second half, making one stop to earn the draw in the game. Koenig made two saves in 60:40 before exiting the game. Jorge Gonzalez did not allow a goal with three saves in 110 minutes for the Roadrunners, but Georgios Theodoulidi took over in net for the shootout.
Pool C play continues tomorrow when No. 6 Jefferson College takes on No. 10 Angelina at 3 p.m. The Mustangs will then take on Jefferson on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 3 p.m. in the final Pool C matchup, needing a win to advance to the tournament semifinals.
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 35 teams competing across nine sports. There are 21 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well the Monroe College marching band and the newly added esports and men's volleyball programs, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 11 teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at
www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (
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@monroemustangs).
