NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., August 22, 2019 – A perennial national title contender, and a year removed from a semifinal appearance, the Monroe College Mustangs men's soccer team looks to build upon last year's success for another chance at a national championship in 2019.
 
The Mustangs come into the 2019 season as the No. 4-ranked team, both in the NJCAA Div. I Men's Soccer Preseason Poll and the United Soccer Coaches Junior College DI Men's Preseason Poll. The Mustangs finished 2018 with a 12-2-2 overall record with a big late-season run that advanced them into the NJCAA Div. I Men's Soccer Championship semifinals.
 
The Mustangs entered the Region XV Championship at ASA College with an 8-1-1 overall record, and the two teams battled to a 2-2 stalemate after double overtime. Monroe came out on top in penalty kicks, 5-4, to claim the region title and advance to the District Championship. The Mustangs defeated No. 8 Essex County College and host Massasoit Community College to earn the championship and the district's automatic bid into the 2019 NJCAA Div. I Men's Soccer Championship tournament.
 
Monroe entered the national tournament as the No. 7 seed. The Mustangs opened pool play with a convincing 6-0 victory over No. 11 CCBC-Essex. They then downed No. 2 Tyler Junior College, the two-time defending national champions, to advance to the final four. The Mustangs' run was then halted in a 1-0 defeat by top-seed, and eventual champion, Pima College.
 
The Mustangs return 11 sophomores from last year's squad this season. Among them is goalkeeper Victor Camps, who was picked to the 2018 NJCAA Div. I Men's Soccer All-America First Team after an outstanding first season with the Mustangs. Monroe also brings back student-athletes who were responsible for 32 of the team's 59 goals scored last year in Luca Erhardt (9), Othman Gherab (6), Ronaldo Da Silva (6), Cameron Joice (5), Tobias Pellio (4), Roque Viegas (1) and Rintaro Takagi (1). The Mustangs also brought in 16 freshman and a sophomore transfer to round out the team's deep roster.
 
The Mustangs' season kicks off in familiar fashion, with Monroe trekking down to Baltimore to compete in the CCBC-Essex Kickoff Classic. Monroe opens play on Saturday, Aug. 24, taking on Harcum College at 3 p.m. The Mustangs will then face a tough challenge on Sunday, Aug. 25, when they go head-to-head with No. 5 Eastern Florida State College at 2 p.m.
 
After a week off, the Mustangs will hit the road again on Tuesday, Sept. 3, to play Rowan College at Burlington County. Monroe's home opener will then take place on Saturday, Sept. 7, when the Community College of Rhode Island comes to New Rochelle for a 7 p.m. contest. A week later, on Saturday, Sept. 14, the Mustangs welcome last year's district championship host, Massasoit Community College, to Skidelsky Field at Flowers Park for another 7 p.m. matchup.
 
Monroe's run of home games continues on Friday, Sept. 20, when the Mustangs take on Region XV foe SUNY Ulster at 7 p.m. They get back to work the following weekend when Bunker Hill Community College visits New Rochelle for a 7 p.m. matchup on Saturday, Sept. 28. The following Saturday will feature the Mustangs taking on Mercer County Community College at 7 p.m. at Flowers Park.
 
The Mustangs wrap up regular-season Region XV action on Saturday, Oct. 12, when they host ASA College at 7 p.m. The Mustangs' last stop of the regular season will take place in Rochester, N.Y., when they visit Monroe Community College at 12 p.m.
 
The 2019 Region XV Championship game is tentatively scheduled for Friday, Oct. 25. The Northeast District Championships would then tentatively begin on Friday, Nov. 8, while the 2019 NJCAA Div. I Men's Soccer Championship tournament is set to run from Nov. 18-23 in Tyler, Texas.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 31 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 12 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).