Men's Soccer: Knights Win Fifth Consecutive Title Behind Momenya’s Goal

By Jordan Ganzermiller

DUNDALK, Md. – Sophomore Steve Momenya scored the game's only goal as the Knights defeated Frederick Community College on Saturday to win its fifth consecutive NJCAA Region XX Division I title at CCBC Dundalk, in a tournament hosted by CCBC Catonsville.

The victory also secures the Knights a spot in the NJCAA Men's Soccer Division I Championship tournament for the third time in five seasons.  

Momenya (Parkdale) scored the goal off a free kick at 78:55.

The Knights (15-5) dominated the game and had most of the scoring chances, the first coming in the 5^th minute.

Freshman Javier Avetrani (Oakland Mills) played a free kick into the box, which was met by the head of freshman Nehemiah Crawford (Baltimore City College) and redirected just wide of the post.

Just six minutes later, the Cougars (14-4-1) had a great chance to open the scoring, but could not capitalize.

A high bouncing ball was misjudged by the Knights' defense and Cougar freshman Adam Needle tried to chip the ball over sophomore goalkeeper Trevor Brookhart (Liberty), but Brookhart made the save.

Momenya had his first quality chance in the 23^rd minute.

Avetrani took a corner and picked out Momenya, who rose and headed it on past the keeper, but a Cougar defender was there to clear it off the line.

The second half was the same way, with the Knights trying to chip away and score a goal.

The first attempt of the half, however, came from Cougars' freshman Luis Flores in the 48^th minute.

Flores lined up an audacious effort and took a 25-yard shot that sailed wide of the right post, which was covered by Brookhart.

Crawford had another chance he could not finish in the 66^th minute.

Momenya took a free kick on the side of the box. He hit a low cross to the near post where Crawford shot with a sliding effort, but it ended up being an easy save for Cougar goalkeeper Joseph Garner.

It wasn't until the 79^th minute that Momenya finally found the back of the net.

Sophomore Ibrahim Kouyate (Blair) won a free kick just inches outside of the box. Surprisingly, Avetrani let Momenya take the free kick, which was slightly to the right side of the top of the box. Instead of trying to dip the ball over the wall, Momenya took a left-footed curling shot to the far post that slipped just past Garner into the lower left-hand corner.

"[Avetrani] usually takes [the free kicks]," said Momenya. "I kind of had confidence, and I believed in myself, and I told him, 'I got it.' And, thanks to him, he let me have it, and luckily it went in."

Four Knights were voted to the NJCAA Region XX All-Tournament Team: Avetrani, Momenya, Brookhart, and freshman Gaige Robinson (Perry Hall).

"It's an accomplishment," Momenya said. "I feel like everyone on our team deserves to be on there because we play good as a team. So, I'm happy to be part of the team."

Robinson said, "I'm extremely excited. I had no clue. When they started calling us, I was like, 'What is this?' But it was a nice thing to get."

The Knights will continue its season at the NJCAA Men's Soccer Division I Championships, which will take place November 14 – 19 in Tyler, Texas.

Follow us on Twitter @CCBCEssexSports and @CCBCEssexSoccer.