Men's Soccer: Knights Win PK Shootout, 6th Straight NJCAA Region XX Crown

By Oluwaseun Adeniji

DUNDALK, MD – For the sixth consecutive season, the Knights are NJCAA Region XX Division I champions, after defeating Frederick 5-3 in a penalty kick shootout on Saturday at CCBC Dundalk.

Freshman Clement Blamo Jr. (Dundalk) tied the game in the 67^th minute after the Cougars' Kenneth Simms tallied the game's first goal at 60:52.

Freshman Walter Avila (Bladensburg) scored the winning shootout goal, as the Knights went 5-for-5 and freshman goalie Kyle Cooper (Calvert Hall) saved the first Cougars' attempt to set up the victory. Cooper also had two saves on three shots in regulation.

"I thought we played really well," said head coach Joe Fiedler. "I thought we did everything we needed to, except put the ball in the back of the net, and obviously I am happy with the sixth regional title in a row."

On the heels of winning their third consecutive Maryland JUCO Athletic Conference title, the Knights will now head to Livonia, Mich. this Saturday to face Region XII champion Schoolcraft Community College in the NJCAA North Central District Championship. Game time is scheduled for 12 noon. 

Final Score: CCBC Essex 1 Frederick Community College 1 | CCBC Essex wins 5-3 in penalty kick shootout.
Records: CCBC Essex (13-5-2) Frederick Community College (11-7)

How it went down

• In the first two minutes, Blamo Jr. made a tricky shot on goal with defenders on his back, but Cougars' Marco De Lauri made the save.
• At 7:26, sophomore Trent Hofmeister (Fallston) made a shot just wide left of the net.
• In the 11th minute, Cougars' Simms put a shot high over the crossbar.
• At 15:33, Hofmeister made a header shot on goal after a free kick from sophomore Seth Walter (C.Milton Wright), but De Lauri made the save.
• In the 21st minute, freshman Bryan Roney's (Easton) long shot on goal was saved by De Lauri.
• At 24:08, Cougars' Anthony Akamdowo broke open for a shot, but the ball traveled into the side of the net.
• At 27:29, freshman Maycol Nunez (Washington-Lee) made a shot on goal after a corner kick pass. The ball appeared to be going out of bounds, but on goal curved on goal where De Lauri made the save.
• Minutes later, Cougars' Elmer Ochoa made put a shot on goal, which was met by sophomore center-back Jake Dengler and redirected just wide of the net.
• At 38:50 freshman Carlos Guzman-Hernandez (Easton) made a long shot just wide right of the net.
• Minutes later, Blamo Jr. was determined to put the Knights on the board and made a shot on goal, but De Lauri made the save during a collision.
• Within ten minutes of the second half, Guzman-Hernandez made a shot on goal, but De Lauri made the save.
• At 57:24, Blamo Jr. had another chance to score, but his shot was wide left.
• At 60:52, Cougars' Simms scored the first goal of the game.
• Six minutes later, Blamo Jr. tied it -- his tenth goal of the season -- assisted by Dengler.
• At 74:46, Dengler aiming for their second, made a shot on goal, but De Lauri made the save.
• At 78:02, Cougars' Akamdowo made a shot on goal but Cooper made the save.
• At 87:25, Guzman-Hernandez played a corner kick into the head of Dengler, but the shot traveled wide left.
• At 88:12, Dengler made a header shot, but it went wide right just passed the net and left both teams tied into overtime.
• At 91:37 Guzman-Hernandez took a corner kick on goal, but De Lauri made the save.
• In the 100th and 101st minutes of play, Blamo Jr. looked to add to the board twice, but De Lauri saved both shots.
• At 102:14, Cougars' Ochoa made a long shot on goal, but Cooper made the save.
• In the 102nd minute, Blamo Jr made a shot high from the net, and one minute after made a shot on goal but De Lauri made the save.
• At 105:24, Guzman-Hernandez' shot sailed high.
• With no shots on goal during the second overtime, a penalty kick shootout concluded this games' champions.

Quotes

"There wasn't really anything going through my mind," Avila said about his game-winning shootout tally. "I just went up there and shot it, and hoped for the best, honestly. I just felt confident in myself and I made it. I felt happy. I ran over to my dad. I was just relieved. That was one of the best moments of my soccer career."

"It was cool," said Blamo of his game-tying goal. "I saw that Jake [Dengler] had the ball, and then he just passed it while I was at the far post, and I just went there and put it in." It was an equally collusive goal.