HAWKS MEN’S SOCCER WINS FIRST GAME AT NATIONAL TOURNAMENT IN PROGRAM HISTORY

TUCSON, Ariz. – The Region XI Champions and Plains District Champions Northeast Community College men's soccer team played in Game 2 of Pool A at the 2022 NJCAA DII Men's Soccer National Tournament Tuesday morning in Tucson, Arizona against Massasoit Community College. The Hawks grabbed the first national tournament victory in the history of the men's soccer program by a final score of 3-0.

The Hawks (19-4-1) started hot as Sergio Aspas (Valencia, Spain) punched in the first goal that the men's soccer program had ever put in on the big stage. Aspas added another for good measure as Northeast jumped ahead 2-0 in the second half.

Tom Hennah (Little, Sandhurst, England) punched in one more to make it 3-0. Hennah then celebrated in the stands with both his dad and grandfather who came all the way to Arizona from England to support the Hawks in what was an incredible moment.

Northeast is essentially in the Elite Eight of the tournament and will battle for a spot in the semifinals tomorrow.

STAT SHEET:

Goals: Sergio Aspas (Valencia, Spain) (2), Tom Hennah (Little Sandhurst, England)

Assists: Jeevan Purewal (Wolverhampton, England), Jordy Enamorado (Lexington, Neb.)

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Assistant men's soccer coach Jyson Breitbarth on the historic win today:

"It's an odd feeling," Breitbarth said. "On one hand you want to celebrate and on the other you want to stay focused on what is yet to come. I'm glad that we enjoyed the moment today with making history, but at the end of the day we are just climbing the ladder. We are getting higher and higher, but we still aren't at the top yet."

Breitbarth on the keys to the match with Phoenix:

"The message for tomorrow's match is that even though we are still in pool play, it really is a final," Breitbarth said. "And since it is a final, we are going to lay everything we have out on the pitch to find success. We need to fight through adversity to seek rewards. And these boys are ready to face adversity with their fists up."

UP NEXT:

It's a quick turnaround as is the case in any tournament setting as the Hawks will be back in action against top-seeded Phoenix Community College at 10 a.m. MT (11 a.m. CT) today at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona.

HAWKS HAPPENINGS:

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