Men's Soccer: Four-Time Defending Champs Prepare for Region XX Tournament

*updated October 25, 2016 3:59 p.m.

ROSEDALE, Md. -- Head coach Joe Fiedler has led the Knights to a regional title he each of his first four seasons at the helm. In two days, his team begins its journey toward a fifth consecutive NJCAA Regional XX Division I Men's Soccer championship. 

"We just need to focus on the game at hand minute by minute, do our jobs, play with composer and play hard, " said Fiedler about winning this year's tournament. "If we let the soccer take care of itself, we should be ok."

The Knights (13-5, 11-1 Region XX) received a first round bye and will play Harford Community College on Wednesday in a semifinal game at 6 p.m.

The Fighting Owls (8-8-1, 5-7-1) handed CCBC Essex a 2-1 defeat on Sept. 23 in Bel Air, Md., the Knights only Maryland JUCO Athletic Conference and Region XX loss this season. 

Should the Knights dispatch of Harford, they will play in the regional championship on Oct. 29 at 1:30p.m.

Both the semifinals and final will be held at CCBC Dundalk, hosted by CCBC Catonsville. 

CCBC Essex enters the tournament on a nine game winning streak and having won 11 of its last 12. 

The Knights' offense features a smorgasbord of student athletes that are capable of finding the back of the net.

Six Knights rank in the top 15 of Region XX Division I in goals scored.

Freshman Nehemiah Crawford (Baltimore City College) has tallied 14, which is good enough for a three-way tie for second. 

Sophomore Storm Robinson (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel) is tied for seventh with 11 and freshman Thaliek Willis (Joppatowne) is ninth with nine.

Freshman Javier Avetrani (Oakland Mills) has seven goals for 12th most, while Yassine Iguidre (Dundalk) and Kiarash Livani (Solna)  are tied for 13th with six goals.

"I like the fact that we have so many people that have had a good season this year," said Fiedler. "It gives us a lot of different options, so that if any given one does not [have a good game], we have others to pick up the slack."

The Knights defense has also played extremely well, allowing just 1.17 goals per game, including seven shutouts. 

Sophomore Steve Momenya (Parkdale) anchors a backfield that also consists of freshmen Javon Dawkins (Parkville), Nathan Nocar (Eastern Technical), Bailey Lyons (Easton) and Trent Hofmeister (Fallston). 

Sophomore goal keeper Trevor Brookhart (Liberty) continues to be a rock. 

His 1.27 goals against average and .817 save percentage rank second and third, respectively, in the region. 

*Follow us on Twitter @CCBCEssexSports and @CCBCEssexSoccer.