CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | BOX SCORE | AWARDS | PHOTOS | NJCAA TV REPLAY
AXTON, Va. – It took double overtime for the NJCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship Match to be decided but with the lone goal of the contest, Louisburg (N.C.) defeated Tyler (Texas) 1-0 for its first national title.
The hero for the Hurricanes’ in the final was forward Max Blackmore. Following a scoreless regulation and first overtime period, the sophomore broke the deadlock in the 102nd minute as he made a probing run into the six-yard box. Blackmore redirected a crossing volley from Louisburg freshman defender Jaric Spath into the box of the net for the walk-off, championship-winning goal.
Recording his second shutout of the tournament, Hurricanes sophomore Braulio Linares-Ortiz held Tyler scoreless for over 101 minutes. Surrendering just goals on the week, the goalkeeper posted a 0.48 goals-against average in four matches.
Despite being held without a goal for just the second time in their 2015 campaign, the Apaches were able to put together four scoring opportunities – including an overtime shot-on-goal that could have won them the title – but Linares-Ortiz continuously turned them away.
Blackmore was recognized as the top player on the pitch with the tournament MVP award. Accumulating nine points in Virginia, the Englishman scored a goal in all four of the Hurricanes’ matches and added an assist in their opening round victory.
Linares-Ortiz was honored for his valiant performance in net with all-tournament accolades. He was joined by Louisburg freshman midfielder Alex Kao who tallied a goal and an assist for three points in four matches.
Entering the week as the top-seeded team in the championship, the Hurricanes ousted No. 8 seed Iowa Western and No. 12 seed Massasoit (Mass.). Louisburg kicked off the tournament with a 3-1 victory over the Warriors before dispatching the Reivers, 2-0. Advancing to the semifinals, the Hurricanes outlasted No. 4 seed Pima (Ariz.) 2-1 in overtime.
Louisburg’s victory over Tyler in the title match not only clinched the first NJCAA championship in the history of the soccer program, but also marked the first national title won by any of the Hurricanes’ seven men’s teams.
Claiming victory in its last 23 matches of the season, Louisburg finished off the year with a 24-1-0 record. The Hurricanes put an end to Tyler’s 14-match win streak as the Apaches fell to 19-4-0 with the defeat.