Monroe's Soccer Team Places Fourth at Nationals

Anthony Asante, Monroe's star striker, scored in the semi-final (Photo courtesy of Monroe College)

In its most successful season ever, Monroe College's men's soccer team came within two games of winning the NJCAA Division 1 Nationals.

At the tournment in Tyler, Texas, in mid-November, the second-seeded Monroe Mustangs won their first game against Otero Junior College (CO), before going down in the semi-final to Cinncinatti State, 2-1, in double over-time.

"We lost to a deep and classy team," Coach Marcus Dibernardo told the Monroe Mustangs website. "Yes, it doesn't feel very good now, but soon we'll realize that we had a great season."

Monroe then lost the third-place playoff game, leaving them with an end of season record of 19-2.

According to Dibernardo, the team is stacked with talent, and its success raises the bar for all future Monroe soccer teams. But as well as shining on the field, the players worked hard work and showed character and discipline off it.

"We set out every year to win the national championship," Dibernardo said in a telephone interview. "But education is first, getting their degrees is first. Then the sport."

Dibernardo and his team are already looking forward to next season.

"We wish we could start tomorrow," he said.

Monroe advanced to the nationals after winning the NJCAA Northeast Divison 1 District Championship in Massachusetts earlier in the month.

Monroe's Undefeated Soccer Team Off to the Nationals

The undefeated Mustangs with the trophy they won last weekend (Photos courtesy of Monroe College)

The Monroe Mustangs men's soccer team won the NJCAA Northeast Division I District Championship in Massachusetts last weekend.

In semi-final they had looked done and dusted, before a staging an astonishing comeback, scoring three goals in four second-half minutes. In the final they defeated Mercer County Community College of New Jersey 3-0.

The victory means they qualify, along seven other teams, for the Division 1 Nationals, to be held in Tyler, Texas next week.

In the tournament's opening game on Nov. 18, the talented Mustangs, which are 18-0 so far this season, will be up against Otero Junior College of Colorado.

If they beat Otero, and then win their semi-final, the team will advance to the championship final on Nov. 21. This year is the first time the Mustangs have made a run to the nationals.

Proud coach Marcus Dibernarndo (aka "Coach D") told the Monroe Mustangs' website that he's expecting a tough challenge. "Any team in this tournament is capable of going all the way," Dibernarndo said, "so we'll have to come out ready right from the start."



Freshman Anthony Asante (in white) gave Mercer CC a torrid time last Sunday, with two goals and an assist