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Posted: Oct 30, 2019

Golden goal gives Triton College Region IV DIII title in 2OT

(Image courtesy of Triton College Athletics)
(Image courtesy of Triton College Athletics)

RIVER GROVE, ILL. - It was no surprise that the rubbermatch between Triton College and Harper College needed more than the regulation 90 minutes to settle a winner. Seven minutes into the game's second overtime, freshman Marcin Kieta scored a game-winner to give the #1 Trojans a 2-1 win over the #2 Hawks to claim the 2019 NJCAA Region IV Division III Men's Soccer Championship on Saturday. The title is the 16th in program history for Triton College.

In a matchup of two nationally ranked teams that had each won on the other's home pitch, visiting Harper College (15-2) took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Jonathan Peici in the first half. The Trojans tallied the equalizer midway through the second half thanks to Alex Mezyk. Playing in a steady rain, the teams combined for just nine shots on goal, with each team's goalkeerper making three saves in the match. After neither squad was able to score in the first ten-minute overtime, the championship match headed to a second OT and eventually ended on Kieta's golden goal, earning the midfielder the Tournament Most Valuable Player award. Piotr Sliwa was named Region IV Coach of the Year.

Triton College improves to 18-1 and extends their current win streak to 15 consecutive heading into the four-team NJCAA Midwest District Tournament, which the Trojans will host on November 1-2. 

The schedule for the NJCAA Midwest District Tournament at the East Campus Athletic Complex multi-purpose field is as follows:

Friday, Nov. 1: Semifinal #1: Schoolcraft College (MI) vs. Richland College (TX) @ noon
                            Semifinal #2: Anoka-Ramsey Community College (MN) vs. Triton College @ 3 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 2: Championship Game @ 1:30 p.m.

All games will be streamed live on the Triton College YouTube Channel and tritionathletics.com.