Morton College nabs third Region IV crown in five years

CICERO, ILL. - The Morton College men's soccer team continued a school-record win streak with a 2-0 defeat of Oakton Community College to claim the program's third Region IV Division I Tournament Championship in the last five years. The top-seeded Panthers improved their consecutive wins streak to an impressive 18 games while ending the Cinderalla-like run the sixth-seeded Owls. 

Freshman goalkeeper Lukas Palma was brilliant with several clutch saves to record a clean sheet in a full match for the second time this season. The effort earned Palma the Region IV Tournament Most Valuable Player award. Alejandro Ramirez gave Morton College (19-3) a 1-0 lead before halftime with a 30' scoring strike, and Maldini Nyandoro added the cushion in the 87' for a 2-0 edge. Coach Juan Franco received the Region IV Coach of the Year honor after earning his program's second trip to the NJCAA District title game.

Morton College advances to the NJCAA Great Lakes District Championship to face second-ranked Marshalltown Community College (IA) on November 3 at 2:00 p.m. in Marshalltown, Iowa. The winner qualifies for the 2018 NJCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida, from November 12-17.

(Picture courtesy of Morton College Athletics)