Northeast men’s soccer falls to #9 Marshalltown, 7-2

Northeast mens soccer falls to #9 Marshalltown, 7-2

Katie Berger

MARSHALLTOWN, IA  – In a match that Hawks Coach Chad Miller called a “rollercoaster,” the Northeast Community College men’s soccer team fell to Marshalltown Community College here today, 7-2.

The Tigers are currently ranked ninth in the National Junior College Athletic Assocation (NJCAA) Division I poll.

Marshalltown scored their first goal ten minutes into the game, and scored their second twenty minutes later. They scored another with six minutes remaining in the half to bring the halftime score to 3-0.

The Hawks fought back in the second half when, four minutes in, Daniel Isaza scored an unassisted goal with a hard shot 25 yards out that beat the goalie high and to the side. Less than two minutes later, Marshalltown answered with another goal, and scored two more in less than two minutes.

Fifteen minutes later, the Hawks’ Nickolas Gamma scored on an assist from Tiago Cunha da Costa to bring the score to 6-2. Marshalltown scored their final goal on a penalty kick with six minutes left in the game.

Northeast had four shots on goal to the Tigers’ eleven. Massimiliano Simonazzi had four saves for the Hawks.

“This was a rollercoaster of a game for us,” Miller said. “With the score 1-0, we had a great chance that would have tied it up, but Marshalltown’s goalie made a great save. We actually played a good first half but were behind on the scoreboard.”

Miller said Marshalltown’s flurry of second-half goals was difficult to overcome.

“That really took the wind out of us. We still played well after that, but it was a game that had some good highs and real lows. Those take a lot out of a player.”

Northeast (5-11-1) will host Hawkeye Community College on Saturday at Veterans Memorial Field in Norfolk. Game time is 3 p.m., following the women’s game, which is set for 1 p.m.