Prairie State makes history with first Region IV championship

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILL. - A penalty kick early in the match was enough to send Prairie State College the its first Region IV Division I Men's Soccer Championship in school history as it defeated Morton College by a 1-0 final on November 2. The #1-seeded Pioneers have won 13 straight matches after the win over the #2-seed and defending champion Panthers.

The penalty kick was awarded and converted in the 16' by sophomore defender Adrian Duda. From that point on, the Pioneers defense and goalkeepers Ryan Cayton and Jose Salgado kept Morton College off the scoreboard with four and three saves, respectively. Sophomore midfielder Andres Osorio of Prairie State College was named the Region IV Tournament Most Valuable Player, while the Carlos Reyes of PSC earned Region IV Coach of the Year.

The Panthers close their season with an 18-5 record.

Prairie State College improves to 17-3-1 and will host the NJCAA Northeast District Tournament on November 8-9. The Pioneers will take on Region III winner Monroe Community College (NY), who owns a 9-7 record, at noon on Friday. The winner will play Region XII champion Muskegon (MI), owners of a 15-3 mark, for the championship at noon on Saturday. The tournament champ advances to the 2019 NJCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship in Tyler, Texas, on November 18-23.