Northeast Soccer Team Picks Up Its First Victory

Members+of+the+Northeast+Community+College+men%E2%80%99s+soccer+team+include+%28front+row%2C+from+left%29+Kobi+Hyppolite%2C+Miguel+Andrade%2C+Connor+Herrod%2C+Juan+Alvarado%2C+Jose+Magana%2C+Saul+Magana%2C+Marcus+Holmberg%2C+Brady+Fister%2C+Christian+Chinchilla%2C+Mark+Murua%2C+and+Julien+Koala.+Back+row+%28from+left%29+Tom+Beutler%2C+assistant+coach%2C+Chad+Miller%2C+head+coach%2C+Waleed+Kadhim%2C+Kevin+Koffi%2C+Mitchell+Plance%2C+Geremy+Dable%2C+Gustavo+Magana%2C+Justin+Sullivan%2C+Ryan+Olmer%2C+Clayton+Patton%2C+Taylor+Thayer%2C+Alex+Rojas%2C+Mario+Cortez%2C+and+Shawn+Tillotson%2C+assistant+coach.+Not+pictured%3A+Fernando+Lopez%2C+Christian+Zazueta+and+Nathan+Broekemeier.+%28Courtesy+Photo%29

Members of the Northeast Community College men’s soccer team include (front row, from left) Kobi Hyppolite, Miguel Andrade, Connor Herrod, Juan Alvarado, Jose Magana, Saul Magana, Marcus Holmberg, Brady Fister, Christian Chinchilla, Mark Murua, and Julien Koala. Back row (from left) Tom Beutler, assistant coach, Chad Miller, head coach, Waleed Kadhim, Kevin Koffi, Mitchell Plance, Geremy Dable, Gustavo Magana, Justin Sullivan, Ryan Olmer, Clayton Patton, Taylor Thayer, Alex Rojas, Mario Cortez, and Shawn Tillotson, assistant coach. Not pictured: Fernando Lopez, Christian Zazueta and Nathan Broekemeier. (Courtesy Photo)

September 22, 2015

NORFOLK – The Northeast Community College soccer team gained some momentum in the second half in its match against Central Community College here Thursday night and went on to a 1-0 victory to claim its first win of the season.

Mario Cortez scored the lone goal of the contest while Fernando Lopez recorded nine saves for Northeast. Statistically, the Raiders outshot the Hawks 19-5 and led 9-4 in shots on goal.

“We started off a little slower this time to see if we could find the pace of the game, get accustomed to it, and then set our own pace. It wasn’t until about 15 minutes left in the first half when I felt like we were starting to gain some control,” said Chad Miller, Hawks coach. “At the start of the second half, it seemed we found our rhythm a bit more and were able to get a nice cross from Saul (Magana) with Mario waiting back post to head it in the net.”

Miller said after the goal, Central pressed forward, “To find the equalizer, and we dodged some bullets but I am proud of how the boys played. The defense did a great job at not giving up easy shots and held their own. We didn’t possess the ball as well as I would have liked, but we can work on that. As long as we can keep teams from scoring on us, it will be tough to lose.

The Hawks (1-6) travel to Estherville, IA, on Saturday, to face Iowa Lakes Community College at 2 p.m.