QUEENS, N.Y., October 27, 2018 – 10th-ranked Monroe Mustangs men's soccer defeated the ASA College Avengers, 2-2 (5-4) in penalty kicks on Saturday at Belson Stadium to claim their third-consecutive Region XV title and advance to the district championships.
 
George Asomani gave the Mustangs the lead in the 30th minute, crossing his defender and beating the keeper with his second goal of the season, giving Monroe a 1-0 lead.
 
The Mustangs would take a 1-0 lead into halftime, but the Avengers quickly tied things up just over eight minutes into the second half. Daniel De Araujo beat the keeper to knot the score up a 1-1 in the 54th minute and a little over three minutes later, Rabiou Ay'gbede's penalty kick goal gave ASA a 2-1 lead.
 
The Mustangs though, wouldn't waste any time finding the equalizer, as Luca Erhardt chipped it over Tiago Da Silva in the 58th minute to even the score at two-goals apiece.
 
From there both teams couldn't find a go-ahead goal, and the Mustangs and Avengers headed into extra time. But with just four shots total between the two sides in another 20 minutes of play, penalty kicks were needed to decide the region championship.
 
Javier Rodriguez took the first shot for Monroe, blasting by the keeper, but De Araujo equalized to even the penalty score at 1-1. The next three shooters for both sides also hit, setting the stage for the Takahiro Awaji's kick with the score knotted at 4-4.
 
Awaji knocked it through to give Monroe a 5-4 lead, and Darrian Chambers couldn't follow, giving the Mustangs a 2-2 (5-4) victory, and their third-straight Region XV Championship over the Avengers.
 
The Mustangs outshot the Avengers, 14-11, while Victor Camps made three saves in goal for Monroe. Erhardt led the Mustangs with four shots, while Brown led ASA with four as well.
 
With the win, the Mustangs qualify for the District Tournament to be held next weekend, with the winner qualifying for the 2018 NJCAA Division I Men's Soccer National Tournament.
 
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 18 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, and the newly added club men's volleyball team, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus as of the fall of 2017, 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 College Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).