MCCC squad embodies unity
It’s easy to look at the Mercer County Community College men’s soccer team and wish the world could come together in harmony as easily as the Vikings.
Mercer’s roster features players from 10 different countries, and the majority of them will play together for just one season. This is nothing new, as junior colleges (and a lot of four-year schools) have been tapping into foreign lands for years now. Some people don’t like it, but it’s the new norm.
The trick, especially at twoyear schools, is to mold so many different backgrounds into a solid team, which Mercer coach Tigana Dalce and assistants Haris Abawi, John Pietrowski and Miton Suah continue to do.
Despite a recent bump in the road, which saw the Vikes go 1-2-1 before winning their last two, Mercer is 10-3-1 overall and 2-2 and in third place in the Division I Region XIX standings.
Trenton Central High graduate Jaime Chavez, who is originally from Guatemala, feels that his teammates from all corners of the world have done a stellar job adapting to each other.
“All of us international players each bring their own way to play,” the freshman said. “We have confidence and good communication. Plus, the tips and tactics of the coaches make us better than most teams.”
Along with Guatemala and America, MCCC is represented by Jordan, Brazil, Jamaica, Japan, Scotland, Australia, Israel and Italy. Also on the roster are Trenton residents Wilson Contreras and Jimmy Lara, both of TCHS, Franklin Fiallos-Colindres (Trenton Catholic) and Erik Munguia (Foundation Collegiate Academy); Princeton grad Dwight Donis and Nottingham product Shar Samson. One of the biggest contributors has been Japan’s Eiichi Yamaguchi, who is tied for ninth in the NJCAA Division I statistics with 16 goals and tied for 15th in points with 36. He has twice been named the Garden State Athletic Conference Player of the Week. “Eiichi is a great player and a good teammate,” Chavez said. “I’m enjoy playing with him. He has incredible qualities; and his skill and vision on the field makes him a great player.” Israel’s Adir Versano has been the team’s playmaker with 15 assists, which leads the nation. Eight players have between two and five goals. Chavez has chipped in with three goals from his midfield position. “My main role is to make runs and help my team score,” he said. “When there are opportunities to score I try to (take advantage) to always be a help to my team.” Jaime was a standout for Trenton and a key to the Tornadoes’ strong 2016 season, but admits making the jump to college wasn’t easy. “The road from school to college soccer has been difficult, it is more competitive,” he said. “Thank God for my father, who always guides me from heaven, my school coaches, and the dedication I put into the sport. I have achieved one of my goals -- to study and play in college.” A short-term goal for Chavez and his teammates is to win the Region XIX Tournament, which begins on Oct. 21. To do so, they will likely have to avenge both of their losses. With one region game remaining against Manor (6-7, 1-2), Mercer appears destined to finish third behind Harcum and Essex unless crazy stuff happens. Harcum took a 3-2 overtime win this past Saturday, while Essex claimed a 3-2 win on Sep. 23.
Chavez feels those games could have easily gone the other way.
“We were not lucky enough to get the victory in games that we were dominating,” he said. “But the more the season goes along, the more competitive other teams become and the games become more difficult. That is past. Now we are focused on going game by game until the end of the season.
“We are focused on each game and I believe in my team that we have what it takes to do well (in regions). We are always working hard and enjoying every game.”
STILL IMPACTFUL:
If this is a rebuilding year, Rider coach Charlie Inverso should rip apart his team at the end of every season and start over.
The Broncs (8-2) ran their winning streak to five after taking MAAC wins over St. Peter’s (4-1) Saturday and league favorite Quinnipiac Wednesday. The victories put the Broncs at 3-0 and tied for first with Manhattan, setting up a big game between the two this Wednesday in Lawrenceville.
David Pastuna notched his third shutout of the season and “was huge” against Quinnipiac, according to Inverso. “The couple times we broke down, he was there to bail us out.”
The Broncs’ run is edging them ever closer to a spot in the national rankings. In the latest United Soccer Coaches Division I poll that came out Tuesday, Rider was third in “also receiving votes” with 34, behind Akron (54) and Ohio State (48). Southern Methodist, with 63 points, is No. 25.
The Broncs are also No. 33 in RPI. The next closest MAAC team is Canisius at 83rd. The Golden Griffins are second in the conference at 2-0-1.
MUCH-NEEDED WIN:
After dropping its Ivy League opener to Dartmouth, Princeton rebounded for a needed 2-0 win over Villanova Wednesday as freshman Kevin O’Toole assisted on the first goal just 59 seconds into play, and scored his first collegiate goal in the second half.
While one loss doesn’t kill Princeton’s chances for an Ivy title, the Tigers (2-5-1) are going to have to play outstanding soccer to win a league that features two teams in the Top 15 in RPI. Dartmouth is 15th, while Columbia is No. 3. Princeton travels to Brown for a Saturday night game.
CONFERENCE WOES:
The College of New Jersey and Rutgers continue to struggle in conference play.
TCNJ (4-6-2) fell to Rutgers-Newark, 3-1, Saturday to fall to 0-2-2 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Lions are winless (0-4-2) in their last six matches after a 4-2 start.
Rutgers dropped a 3-2 loss to Wisconsin Sunday, dropping the Knights to 0-5 in the Big Ten. Three of Rutgers B1G losses have been by one goal.