It was the first national championship in College history. It was the first undefeated team in the College’s soccer history…It was the first men’s soccer team in College history.
Led by Mercer Athletics Hall of Fame inaugural inductee coach, Stan Dlugosz, the Trenton Junior College (which would become Mercer County Community College in 1966) Vikings went on to win fifteen games without a loss en route to the national championship held in Buffalo, NY.
The path to the national championship, saw the Vikings defeat Warren Wilson Junior College of Swannanoa, NC in the semifinals by a score of 5-0. That win set up a match with the defending national champion, Mitchell College, New London, CT.
In November 1963, the TJC Vikings defeated defending national champion, Mitchell College, 4-3 in overtime amidst snow and mud. The match was a back and forth contest with the Vikings taking an early lead only to fall behind midway through the contest. Mercer tied the game at 3-3 in the third quarter eventually setting the stage for a 10-minute, sudden victory overtime period. According to MCCC Sports News, “After one-touching the ball, Dill drilled a 40-yard shot that flew into the right corner of the net, giving the Vikings the national championship at the 5:07 mark.”
The Vikings produced two All-Americans that year, Joe Bianchini and Jim Dill which were the first for men’s soccer. Beginning with that storied 1963 squad and continue through the present season, no men’s soccer team has finished with a record below .500 in the program’s history.
Members of the 1963 championship squad:
John Aszmus
Joe Bianchini
Jim Dill
Lou DiTanna
Steve Doczy
Buddy Edolo
Rudy Geurds
Lou Guynee
Ron Hoch
Bud Lawton
John Massielo
Jim Meriwether
Dave Oberly
Steve Schelva
Pat Scheffer
Rich Staats
Kevin Sullivan
