Local Soccer Products Named to NJCAA All-Region 19 First Team and Player of the Year

10/29/19

West Windsor, N.J. - Mercer County Community College (MCCC) had a pair of homegrown talents recognized this week, as the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 19 named Jamie Ervin and Giuliana Pocino to the All-Region First Team.

Ervin, who also earned Region 19 Player of the Year, is a graduate of Ewing High School where she earned All-Colonial Valley Conference Second Team honors as a senior. Earlier this season, Ervin was named Region 19 Player of the Week after leading the Lady Vikings to a 4-0 record.

“Being given this honor makes me proud because I’m seeing my hard work pay off,” Ervin said after learning of her awards. “Many people downplay Mercer, but I’m so glad I was able to achieve this here.”

This season, Ervin was fifth in the nation is points scored (79) and fifth in goals (37). Against Bergen Community College, her final home game of her career, she scored her 50th goal and ended her career with 60 (playoffs included).

Joining her on the All-Region Team is Pocino, who came to Mercer from Nottingham High in Hamilton. She last played in 2017 after an ACL injury sidelined her for her entire senior year.

This season, she supported Ervin’s offensive efforts. Pocino’s 13 goals were the second most on the team, and her seven assists were third among the Lady Vikings.

“I certainly worried about the kind of player I would be when I returned this season, but I knew the passion I had for sports hadn’t changed,” said Pocino about entering the 2019 soccer season.

“I’m thankful that my mom encouraged me to stay local,” she added. “I’m thankful that Coach [Elyse] Diamond had faith in me. I came to Mercer and have not regretted it for a second.”

With the 2019 season in the books, Ervin and Pocino have already set their sights on new goals. Ervin is looking to continue her career in the NCAA, while Pocino has plans to suit up for MCCC’s women’s basketball team this winter.

“I’m so grateful to have had the honor of playing with my sisters by my side at Mercer,” Ervin said. “They made me better and truly gave me an opportunity to shine.”

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Jamie Ervin was named NJCAA Region 19 Player of the Year, as well as to the All-Region 19 Team.

Giuliana Pocino joins Ervin on the All Region 19 First Team.