MCCC Men's Soccer Region 19 Champions

10/31/23

Mercer men’s soccer (9-6-2) won the Region 19 Championship and advanced to the Northeast District Championship following a 3-0 win over Massasoit (12-2-2) in the title game.  Freshman Francesco Quintavalla (Parma, Italy/Convitto Nazionale Maria Luigia) had a goal and an assist and sophomores Teddy Nkamanyi (Cologne, Germany/Gesamtschule Duisburg Mitte) and Kida Yamaguchi (Hiroshima, Japan/Aomori Yamada) each added a goal in the win.  Freshman Alou Gamby (Landsale, PA/North Penn) had an assist and freshman goalie Elias Ruano (Telde, Spain/Juan Pulido Castro) had the shutout in the net.

The Vikings reached the Region Championship game following a 3-0 win over Essex in the Semifinals.  Nkamanyi had 2 goals and 1 assist in the win.  Freshman Lesedi Hlabeli (Guateng, South Africa/Redford House Blue Hills) scored a goal and freshman Max Furrer (Freiburg, Germany/Marie-Curie Gymnasium) added an assist in the win.  Ruano earned the shutout in goal.

Nkamanyi was named the Offensive MVP of the Tournament.  Nkamanyi had 3 goals and 1 assist over two Region Tournament games to lead the Vikings.  Sophomore Dillon Du Toit (Johannesburg, South Africa/Waterstone College) was named the Defensive MVP of the Tournament.  Head Coach Widmarc Dalce was named Region 19 Coach of the Year.  This is the sixth time Dalce has earned this honor and the sixth time Dalce has the won the Region 19 Championship in 12 seasons.  

The Vikings advance to the Northeast District Championship with the chance to advance to the NJCAA Division II National Championship.  Mercer will take on Region 12 Champion, Schoolcraft College in Livonia, Michigan.  Schoolcraft is 14-2 on the season and ranked 6 ^th in Division II Men’s Soccer.  Schoolcraft defeated Grand Rapids Community College 3-1 to advance to the Northeast District Championship, which will be played on either November 4 ^th or 5 ^th with Schoolcraft as the host.