By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
October 5, 2016
JENKINTOWN, PA—Three different Mercer County Community College (6-4-2 overall, 4-1 Region XIX Division I) players scored goals and freshman goalkeeper Abdelrahman Mohamed-Hanza made 14 saves as they defeated Manor College (4-7-0, 0-2), 3-1.
The Vikings shot early and often in the first half at Blue Jays sophomore goalkeeper Thomas Hipwell (Cheltenham, PA/Cheltenham). Mercer County freshman back Vladik Margolin shot beyond the 18-yard line hit the left cross bar in the third minute. Mercer County sophomore midfielder Arinze Lloka shot outside the 18 was initially punched in the air by Hipwell and caught it for the save in the 14th minute. Viking freshman back Randy Gonzalez' shot beyond the 18 went wide left of the goal in the 17th. Nearly three minutes later, Mercer County sophomore midfielder/forward Humberto Blanco passed the ball to freshman midfielder Adir Versano, but, Versano's shot went over the cross bar. In the 21st minute, Manor freshman midfielder Phedel Saye (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) header was saved by Mohamed-Hanza. Saye's shot in the 24th minute went out of bounds. Versano's shot inside the 18 in the 26th minute was snagged away by Hipwell. Margolin's shot in the 28th minute was punched in the air and caught by Hipwell. In the 32nd minute, Saye's shot inside the 18 was punched away by Mohamed-Hanza, but, sophomore midfielder Tyler Keefer's (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) shot on the rebound went for naught. Mercer County struck first in the 41st minute. Manor freshman midfielder Jonathan Cabrera (Aldan, PA/Mercy Vocational) was called for tripping Margolin inside the 18. Margolin's penalty kick went past Hipwell into the left side of the net. The Vikings led at halftime 1-0 and outshot the Blue Jays 18 to 10 in the first half.
In the opening minute of the second half, Mercer County midfielder/forward Guilherme Franca's shot went wide left of the goal. Similar to the first half, the Vikings also shot often in the second half. Cachoni's shot in the 48th minute went over the cross bar. In the 53rd minute, Franca's shot inside the 18 went past Hipwell, but, freshman defenseman Innocent Bazongo's (Philadelphia, PA/Samuel S. Fels) header kept it from going in the net. Cachoni's direct kick in the 56th minute was punched away by Hipwell. Versano passed left to Cachoni and kicked it past Hipwell into the left side of the net for a 2-0 Mercer County lead in the 60th minute. Viking sophomore back Carlos Leal's direct kick in the 71st minute was punched away by Hipwell. Versano's corner kick went to freshman forward Anthony Remboski and kicked the ball into the upper left-hand corner of the net for a 3-0 lead in the 72nd minute. Manor sophomore midfielder Kevin Rodriguez' (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove) direct kick in the 77th minute was deflected out of bounds by a Mercer County defender. Less than minute later, Rodriguez passed the ball up the middle to sophomore midfielder Cole Speiser (Philadelphia, PA/Father Judge) inside the 18. Speiser kicked into the left side of the net past Mohamed-Hanza to close the deficit to 3-1. It was Manor's first home goal since September 15 when Saye scored in the 72nd minute versus Bucks County Community College—a span of 185 minutes between tallies. Sophomore midfielder Dashan Santiago's (Philadelphia, PA/George Washington) direct kick in the 82nd minute and Keefer's direct kick in the 89th were both saved by Mohamed-Hanza. Mercer County outshot Manor by two-to-one (24 to 12) in the second half and 42 to 22 for the match.
Individually, Saye led Manor with five shots and Keefer added four. Hipwell made 27 saves.
Manor remains winless (0-9-0) in Division I competition since 2014. They last defeated Division I opponent on September 10, 2013 (3-1 at Essex County College). The Blue Jays last won versus a Division I opponent at home on October 10, 2009 (3-0 against Salem Community College).
The loss drops Manor's home record to 1-4-0 this season and have been outscored 16 to nine. Since moving up to Division I for the 2014 season, the Blue Jays are 4-15-0 at home and have been outscored 64 to 35.
Manor has yet to defeat Mercer County in three matches (0-3-0). They have been outscored 15 to two.
The Blue Jays' next regular season and home match is versus Division III Lehigh Carbon Community College (2-12-0) Noon Saturday, October 8.