NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., November 4, 2023 – The title defense is on! The No. 8-ranked Monroe College Mustangs men's soccer team is heading back to the NJCAA Div. I Men's Soccer Championship after
Sunao Yamamoto's double-overtime golden goal lifted the Mustangs to a 1-0 victory over Montgomery College in Saturday's East District Championship game over Montgomery College.
There were not many scoring chances on both ends of the field throughout the two extra periods. In the 105th minute,
Felipe Jaime Arruda found space to get the ball into the box. Yamamoto was waiting for him in front of the keeper, and Arruda was able to chip it over to him, allowing Yamamoto to strike it off the hands of the keeper and over the line for the golden-goal game-winner.
Throughout the first 45 minutes, the Mustangs had a number of chances to score, but Montgomery's goalkeeper stopped five shots to help the game reach the half scoreless. The opportunities evened out in the second half, with Monroe netminder needing to make three saves compared to just two for the Raptors' keeper, with the Mustangs holding a narrow 7-6 edge in shot attempts, but neither team was able to get on the board, forcing the game into overtime.
Alvaro Ramos earned the shutout victory on Saturday, making four saves in 104:47 to help the Mustangs get back to nationals. Youssouf Moumban stopped six shots for the Raptors, but allowed the game-winner to shoulder the loss.
The Mustangs outshot the Raptors, 15-9, and doubled them up in shots on goal, 8-4. Monroe and Montgomery were even with four corner kicks apiece.
The Mustangs are now locked into a spot at the 2023 NJCAA Div. I Men's Soccer Championship in at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kan., looking to defend their 2022 National Championship. The Mustangs will learn where they fit in the bracket on Tuesday, Nov. 7, during the NJCAA Div. I Men's Soccer Bracket Reveal on the NJCAA Network at 2 p.m.
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).
