Men's Soccer: Knights Ready for NJCAA Nationals after 3rd Straight Regional Title

On Saturday, Nov. 1, the CCBC Essex men's soccer team defeated College of Southern Maryland 2-0 to capture the 2014 NJCAA Region XX Division I Championship and earn a spot in the national tournament in Prescott, Ariz.

Sophomore Jake Ossie – NJCAA All Region XX First Team – made five saves to preserve the shutout. Ossie's 1.02 goals against average and 11 goals against rank him second and third, respectively, in the Maryland Juco conference, despite missing nine games due to injury.  

It is the Knights third consecutive Region XX title, and seventh in eight years. The Knights have now won the regional tournament 19 times and will enter the national championship as the No. 10 men's team in NJCAA Division I Men's Soccer.

The Knights are also making a second straight trip to the NJCAA National Division I Men's Soccer Championship and the eleventh in school history. CCBC Essex was last the national champion in 1974 and runner up in 1984, 1989 and 1993.

Freshman Nicholas Jones scored the first goal against Southern Maryland on a header, after sophomore Robert Allman served a beautiful crossing pass during a free kick.

Jones has 15 shots on goal and five assists of his own this season, numbers that rank him in a tie for second and tie for third, respectively, on the team.

The game's second goal was scored by freshman Kyle Mizell and assisted by Guillermo Almirall. 

Almirall leads the Knights with eight assists this season and is ranked No. 6 in the Maryland Juco conference. He also has 12 shots on goal, which are tied for the team lead.

Mizell has enjoyed a successful freshman season, rewarded with his first NJCAA All Region XX First Team selection.

He has 23 points (tied No. 11 Maryland Juco), three game-winning goals (tied team lead, tied No. 6 Maryland Juco), nine goals (tied No. 3 on team), five assists (tied No. 3 on team) and has 15 shots on goal (tied for team lead).

Freshman Roman Bubalo is also having a great start to his collegiate career, earning a spot on the NJCAA All Region XX First Team.

Bubalo has scored 16 goals (team leader, No. 4 Maryland Juco), three game-winners (tied team lead, tied No. 6 Maryland Juco), 35 points (team leader, No. 4 Maryland Juco) and leads the team with 22 shots on goal.

Sophomore Kyle Six had a game-winning goal and two assists this season, but it was his play between the pipes that was invaluable.

Six started nine games in goal while Ossie was out with an injury. Six allowed just 15 goals (tied No. 4 Maryland Juco) and posted a 1.60 goals against average (No. 6 Maryland Juco), as the team went 7-2 in that span.

Sophomore Shawn Geary missed four games with injury this season, but still earned NJCAA All Region XX First Team honors, scoring 10 goals (tied No. 9 Maryland Juco, second on team) and 23 points (tied No. 11 Maryland Juco, second on team). He also ranks second on the team with 19 shots on goal.

On the defensive side of the ball, Justin Ornelas (NJCAA All Region XX First Team) and Allman (NJCAA All Region XX Second Team) each earned All Region XX honors as well.

The Knights will now wait for the NJCAA National Tournament draw that will decide its competition in the group stage.

National tournament assignments should be available on Nov. 10 and listed on the tournament website.