Season Review: Memorable Campaign for Men’s Soccer
Signature Win: Delaware County Community College rallied past host Northampton Community College, 4-2, on Oct. 15, in a classic win-and-get-in situation on the final day of the regular season. Mired in a three-game losing streak, down three regular starters, and facing a 2-1 halftime deficit, the Phantoms stormed back with three unanswered goals in the second half to claim the come-from-behind victory and simultaneously punch their ticket to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XIX playoffs. Abdu Sonnie tallied two goals on the afternoon while Nour Edrees and John-Preston Boyce each had one. Gabriel Elbasani assisted on Boyce’s eventual game-winner in the 73rd minute of the game before Sonnie added his second of the day to give the visitors some breathing room. Goalkeeper Phil Nmah was also a difference maker as he tied his season high with nine saves on the day.
Season Notes: The Phantoms finished 7-8-1 overall … Despite its first-round loss to host Rowan College South Jersey-Gloucester, Delaware County Community College extended its postseason appearance streak to four consecutive years … The Phantoms answered a five-game winless streak in early September with a run of four-straight wins that saw the squad outscore its opponent by a margin of 16-to-6 … Delaware County Community College provided the home fans with a season highlight that transcended the scoreboard on Oct. 10 as the soccer program honored the global diversity of the team’s roster. Players and coaches, alike, stood proudly in front of their country’s respective flags to recognize and celebrate one another’s cultural differences. The pregame energy carried over to the contest itself as the Phantoms hung tough with eventual Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (EPAC) champion Bucks County Community College before falling by a score of 3-1 … Edrees, Elbasani and Albano Balili started all 16 contests for the Phantoms … Sonnie topped the team in goals (6) and points (13) while Boyce was the assist leader with six … Three of Danilo Ercole’s four goals on the season were game-winners … Thirteen of the 20 players on the roster tallied at least one point on the year.
Awards:
All-EPAC: Dani Ercole (first team), Albano Balili (second team), Jorge Barberan (second team)