Waubonsee claims repeat Region IV title with PK's after scoreless match

PALOS HILLS, ILL. - Following 110 minutes of scoreless soccer, the Waubonsee Community College men's soccer team defeated Moraine Valley Community College, 5-4 in penalty kicks, to win the 2017 NJCAA Region IV Division I championship for the third time in the last five years. The fourth-seeded Chiefs (18-4) receive an automatic bid to the NJCAA Division I Men's Soccer National Championships with the win, marking their first-ever trip to the national tournament.

The two teams battled to a scoreless draw after 90 minutes of regulation and a pair of ten-minute, sudden victory overtime periods. Prior to the start of the shootout, the Cyclones (17-3-1) replaced their goalkeeper. Following Sesar Nieves' successful kick gave Waubonsee a 5-4 lead to start the second round of penalty kicks, Chiefs goalkeeper Devin Hernandez made the game-winning save. Hernandez was named the Region IV Tournament Most Valuable Player.

Waubonsee, which had missed qualifying for the national tournament twice before after losses in the Great Lakes District title match, will join the Region XI winner with automatic bids from the district after claiming their second consecutive Region IV crown. Head coach Brett Suhayda was named Region IV Coach of the Year.

The Chiefs, ranked #19 in the final NJCAA Division I Poll, will travel to Prescott, Arizona, for the NJCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championships at Mountain Valley Field. The tournament runs November 13-18.