WICHITA, Kan., November 12, 2023 – If you are looking for a good omen, you may have gotten it on Sunday. Last year, the Monroe College Mustangs men's soccer team opened the Pool Play round of the NJCAA Div. I Men's Soccer Championship by collecting three points by winning the penalty-kick shootout against Angelina College. The No. 4-seeded Mustangs did it again on Sunday against No. 9 Cowley College, outlasting the Tigers in the shootout, 4-2, to claim three points in Pool D after a 2-2 draw after 110 minutes at the Stryker Sports Complex. The Mustangs now sit one win away from advancing to the semifinals.
 
The game went to halftime scoreless, but not without some drama. Monroe goalkeeper Alvaro Ramos was tested in the opening half, needing to make six saves across the first 45 minutes. Late in the half, Thiago Apolinario fired a rocket for Cowley off the crossbar, and then tried to head it in off the rebound, but Ramos got a hold of it with only a few seconds left before the break to help keep the Tigers off the board.
 
A stroke of luck led to the first goal of the game in the 61st minute. Manuel Cordeiro's shot was saved, and the Mustangs made their way back toward midfield with the Tigers controlling. The goalie sent the ball up to another player, who passed it back to another defender, who then sent it over to the goalie to send it up the field. However, when the goalie went to play it, the ball ricocheted off his back foot and trickled into his goal, giving the Mustangs a 1-0 lead in the 61st minute on an own goal.
 
The lead did not last long, though. Cowley was set up with a free kick to the left of Monroe's net. The high cross came down to the right corner of the net, where Apolinario deflected it into the net to tie the game at 1-1 in the 69th minute.
 
Immediately after the goal, the Mustangs worked down the field and into the box. The Tigers tried to clear, but it was settled 10 yards outside the box and sent in to Taisei Iida, who turned and fired low and into the right corner of the net to put the Mustangs back on top, 2-1, in the 70th minute.
 
The Mustangs were once again unable to hang onto the lead for too long. In the 77th minute, Cowley's Sota Nakazono sent a corner kick right in front of the net, where Adriano Melo redirected it into the net to knot things up at 2-2, eventually forcing the game into overtime.
 
The Mustangs had a couple chances to score in the first overtime, but shots by Shotaro Kino and Gun Ha Lee were saved, forcing a second extra period. The Mustangs had another two shots saved in the second overtime, while the Tigers were only able to attempt one shot, sending the game to a penalty-kick shootout after finishing overtime with a 2-2 draw.
 
Cowley shot first in the shootout, with Apolinario scoring top-shelf on the first try. Rodrigo Bacci Pereira Meira Arruda matching him to tie it up at 1-1.
 
Leonardo Schorr tried to take it slow and took it easy toward Ramos' right, but the Mustang goalkeeper made the diving stop. Gun Ha Lee then took his chance and hit the back of the net, putting the Mustangs up, 2-1.
 
Andre Ecker was next for the Tigers, making his shot to tie the shootout. Stev Kevin Thallinger then got to the line quickly and wasted no time beating the keeper for a 3-2 Monroe lead.
 
Ramos came up huge once again, making a diving save to his left to block Melo's shot, giving the Mustangs a chance to win with one more goal. It was up to Henrique Lobato, who stepped up confidently and came through with one final penalty-kick goal for the Mustangs, earning them the shootout victory to pick up three points in pool play.
 
Ramos stopped nine shots outside of the shootout on Sunday, allowing two goals to take the draw. Kamy Ndione made six saves for Cowley but also yielded two goals.
 
No. 9 Cowley plays again on Monday, Nov. 13, to wrap up their Pool D schedule against No. 5 Angelina. No. 4 Monroe and No. 5 Angelina then wrap up the pool-play round of the tournament when they face off on Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 6:30 p.m. ET at Stryker Sports Complex. The Mustangs are in a win-and-in situation now. Angelina needs to win both of its games to advance, while Cowley can advance by defeating Angelina, Angelina defeating Monroe, and Cowley holding the advantage in goal differential.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 28 teams competing across nine sports. There are 20 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well the Monroe College marching band, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has seven teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
 
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs). Read Full Article