Overtime Loss in National Tournament Ends Mercer Men's Soccer Magical Run
Mercer men's soccer run in the National Tournament in Huntsville, Alabama came to an end when the Vikings lost in overtime to Northeast CC 2-1 in their second game of pool play on Monday, November 18th. The team finished the 2024 season with an 18-3-1 record and one win away from the Final Four of the National Championship.
The NJCAA Division II National Championship featured twelve teams including eight District Champions and four at-large selections. The teams were divided into four pools of three teams with the winner of each pool advancing to the Final Four and the winners of the Final Four, playing in the National Championship game. MCCC received an automatic bid as the Northeast District Champion.
Mercer was the #9 seed in Pool D along with #4 seed Phoenix College from Arizona and #5 seed Northeast Community College from Nebraska. Entering the National Tournament, Northeast CC was 17-1-1 and was the top team in the final regular season Division II Top 20 National Poll. Phoenix College was 16-1-1 and was ranked 3rd in the final regular season Division II Top 20 National Poll. Both Phoenix and Northeast ended up as at large bids to the National Championship after losses in their District or Region Championships. The Vikings headed into the National Tournament with a 17-2-1 record and a thirteen game winning streak. MCCC was ranked 16th in the final DII Top 20 Poll.
Mercer men’s soccer opened their 37th NJCAA National Tournament appearance with a thrilling 3-2 overtime win vs Phoenix College. Freshman Adrian Garcia Franco (Madrid, Spain/Zola School) scored the golden goal in the opening minute (91:11) of overtime to give the Vikings the come from behind win. MCCC was down 0-1 at halftime and scored three unanswered goals for the win. The Vikings first goal of the game came from sophomore Joao Lourenco (Belo Horizonte, Brazil/Cesec Murilo Mendes) in the second half (62:10) off an assist from sophomore Alou Gamby (Lansdale, PA/North Penn). Sophomore Diego Orquiz (Chihuahua, Mexico/Valle de Mexico) tied the game 2-2 (84:30) with six minutes left in regulation on a header off an assist from freshman Daniel Garcia Franco (Madrid, Spain/Zola School). Daniel’s brother Adrian gave the Vikings the win one minute and eleven seconds into overtime with the game-winning goal off an assist from freshman Deniz Karcher (Heidenheim, Germany/Max Planck Gymnasium).
In their second game of pool play at the National Tournament, Mercer men’s soccer lost to Northeast CC (19-1-2) in overtime 2-1. Both of Northeast’s goals came on free kicks. After a scoreless first half, Mercer took a 1-0 lead early in the second half (54:44) on a goal from sophomore Alou Gamby (Lansdale, PA/North Penn). Northeast tied the game on a free kick (72:09) with 18 minutes left in the second half. The Hawks won the game with another free kick late into the first overtime period (97:23). Northeast CC had the top offense in the country heading into the National Tournament and the Vikings limited the Hawks to just one goal in regulation.
The Vikings were eliminated from the National Tournament on Tuesday night when Northeast CC beat Phoenix College 6-2 to move to 2-0 in Pool D and advance to the Final Four.
For the latest on MCCC men’s soccer, visit: https://www.mccc.edu/athletics_men_soccer.shtml
Mercer got a 3-2 overtime win over Phoenix College
The Vikings starting lineup before their opening National Tournament game.
