THREE-PEAT: Harper keeps Region 4 crown by holding off Madison

MADISON, WISC. - Three goals in the second half propelled Harper College to a third straight NJCAA Region 4 Division III Men's Soccer Tournament Championship as they defeated Madison College by a 4-3 final on October 22. The second-seeded Hawks received two goals from freshman Aaron Bustamante, who was named the Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player. Head coach Dan Klaus, who took over the program prior to the start of the 2022 season, took home Region 4 Coach of the Year honors.

Both teams reached the championship match with lopsided semifinal wins, as the top-seeded WolfPack upended fourth-seeded Milwaukee Area Technical College by a 7-0 final, and second-seeded Harper College dominated third-seeded Joliet Junior College 10-2. The Hawks then hit the road for the second consecutive title match. Bustamante opened the scoring with a 23' goal, but it was even a 1-1 entering the second half. A Tyler Dawson scoring strike, followed by Bustamante's second goal made it a 3-1 differential. Madison College closed to within 3-2 before Arnulfo Mora fired the game-winner in the 76'. The WolfPack tried to rally late with a goal in the 89', however, they ran out of time.

Harper College will host the NJCAA Midwest District Tournament on Friday and Saturday, October 28-29. The four-team field will include both the Hawks and the WolfPack. Harper College will take on Region 13 champion Anoka-Ramsey Community College at noon, while Madison College battles four-time defending national champion and Region 5 winner Dallas-Richland at approximately 2pm. The winners will meet for the championship on Saturday at 2pm in Palatine, Illinois. The district champion earns an automatic bid into the 2022 NJCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championships in Tucson, Arizona, from November 9-13 in Batavia, New York.

Region 4 Tournament MVP
Aaron Bustamante - Harper College

Region 4 Coach of the Year
Dan Klaus - Harper College