Tribunes advance to NJCAA semifinals
MCC holds on to defeat Illinois Central to move out of pool play.
ALBANY, Georgia – MCC jumped out to a two-goal lead and desperately held on to defeat Illinois Central 2-1 to advance to the semifinals of the NJCAA Division I men's soccer national tournament Wednesday.
The Tribunes (18-0-1) will play at 7:30 p.m. Friday against an opponent to be determined.
Mohamed Wally (Jersey City, NY/Ferris) got the Tribunes on the board in the first half off a pass from Seamus Sharkey (Newtown, Ireland/St. Eunans). The play originated from a corner kick from Gianluca Cuomo (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena), and Sharkey headed it to Wally for the score.
The lead then increased to 2-0 just before the break, as Juan Colorado (Brooklyn, NY/FDR) found the back of the net. Shane McInerney (Ballinosloe, Ireland/Athlone) assisted.
The Cougars cut the lead to 2-1 midway through the second half and carried the momentum the rest of the way. Illinois Central almost had the equalizer, but Tribune goalie Fernando Meza (Miami, FL/Miami Beach) came through with a point-blank save.