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Posted: Nov 13, 2024

ANOTHER GOLDEN MOMENT: OT golden goal nets Morton a second region title

ANOTHER GOLDEN MOMENT: OT golden goal nets Morton a second region title

MADISON, WISC. - As the minutes began to wind down on November 9 at Madison College, it appeared that #4-seeded Elgin Community College was on its way to a region championship. Roughly a dozen soccer minutes later, it was #6-seeded Morton College holding the Region 4 Division II Men's Soccer Tournament championship plague with a 3-2 victory in overtime. Freshman Ricardo Cruz nailed the game-winning goal in the final seconds of the first overtime to give the Panthers their sixth region crown in the past 11 years. Juan Franco was awarded Region 4 Coach of the Year honors. (Recap: Morton)

Elgin Community College (12-3-3) got on the scoreboard first with a 6' goal from Gabriel Arias; however, the lead lasted just a few minutes as Morton College answered in the 11' when Marcos Talavera scored to make it 1-1. Still even into the second half, the Spartans took a 2-1 lead in the 69' when Oscar Jimenez buried a shot in the back of the net. As the minutes began to wind down, Morton College went on the attack, which resulted in an 87' penalty kick. Selmane Azibi blasted it by the goalkeeper for the equalizer, and the game was headed to overtime. As they did with a golden goal in 2022, Morton College posted the game-winner in OT as Cruz converted a Jules Beretta pass with seconds remaining to close out a tournament filled with upsets.

Morton College (12-6-3) advances to the NJCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championships in Huntsville, Alabama, from November 17-23. The 2022 national runners-up were awarded the #10 seed and a spot in Pool C alongside #3-seed and defending national champion Iowa Lakes Community College (13-2-4), as well as #6 seed CCBC Essex (15-3-2). The Panthers begin pool play November 17 at 3:00pm against Iowa Lakes, ranked #2 in the NJCAA Division II Poll, before taking on #9-ranked Essex at 3:00pm on November 18. Pool winners advance to the semifinals on November 21. 

(Image courtesy of Morton College Athletics)

2024 Region 4 Coach of the Year
Juan Franco - Morton College

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