Herkimer CCC comes from behind to win seventh NJCAA National Soccer Championship
DALLAS – Seven NJCAA Division III National Soccer Championships.
That’s how many titles the Herkimer County Community College men’s soccer team now have after it shook off a slow start and received great play down the stretch from Joeski Williams and Corey Phillips to beat Triton College, 2-1, in Sunday’s 2008 NJCAA Division III National Soccer Championship finale at Richland College.
The win was the second of the tournament in which the Generals (20-3) had to fight off an early deficit.
“This is unbelievable. In both games, to come from behind, especially in this game, having scored two goals in 8 minutes … it just shows you their resiliency,” Herkimer CCC head coach Pepe Aragon said. “They refuse to lose and just never give up.”
Trailing 1-0 at halftime after Triton College (14-5) midfielder Rafal Ryndak scored with nearly 19 minutes left in the first half, Herkimer’s Phillips assisted on the tying goal from Williams, the tournament’s MVP, with around 8 minutes remaining in the contest.
Minutes later, Triton appeared that it would take the lead on a Chris Camie header but Generals goalkeeper James Taber made a huge save to keep the game tied.
Then, during Herkimer’s next trip downfield, Phillips, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, received a pass inside the goalie box, where he used his size and fancy footwork to free up just enough space from the defender to kick the winning goal with 2:45 left in the game, ultimately giving the Generals their first national championship since 2005.
Before this year, Richland College, the tournament’s host had won five of the past six championships.
“This win is huge. To win any championship now gets tougher and tougher every year,” Aragon said. “To have won our seventh championship is something very special.”
Triton College was making its fifth appearance in the national tournament and first since 1995. Prior to this year, Triton College’s best finish in the national tournament was fifth.
November 09 2008 05:42 pm | News Releases