PURCHASE YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP GEAR: INDIAN HILLS MEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP APPAREL
Ottumwa, IA – The Indian Hills Men's Soccer team is headed to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DI Men's Soccer National Tournament for the second time in program history after the Warriors captured the NJCAA Midwest District Championship in front of its home crowd on Sunday. Indian Hills topped Iowa Western Community College 2-0 to claim the District title.
The Warriors used a pair of second half goals to power its way past the Reivers and claim the program's first-ever NJCAA DI Men's Soccer Midwest District title. The Warriors advance to the national tournament for the first time since 2017, the program's first-ever appearance.
After a scoreless opening half, Indian Hills used goals from freshmen Daniel Mulero (Asturias, Spain/Salesianos Santo Angel Aviles) and Fernando Pirri (Cordoba, Spain/IES Francisco de los Rios) to run past the Reivers for the team's third victory over Iowa Western this season, and fourth consecutive win in the series. Indian Hills heads to the national tournament with a 9-2-4 overall record.
Indian Hills will learn its seed and pool play opponents for the national tournament at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, November 7 via the NJCAA Network bracket reveal.
After defeating the Reivers twice during the regular season to earn the right to host the NJCAA Midwest District Tournament, the two longtime Iowa Community College Conference (ICCAC) foes squared off in Sunday's title bout. Both sides saw limited but quality scoring opportunities in the opening half, but were unable to find the back of the net. A late strike from Iowa Western before intermission forced keeper Harvey Sellers (Surrey, England/Ewell Castle) to make a full extension save to keep the match scoreless.
With both sides threatening to open the second half, the Warriors finally hit paydirt in the 63rd minute as Mulero tallied his second goal of the District tournament. The freshman corralled his own rebound to beat a series of defenders in the box from close range for the initial lead for Indian Hills.
Just over 10 minutes later, Pirri made the most of his opportunity with a goal at the 75:36 mark to double the lead. Ales Kohoutek (Prague, Czech Republic/Gymnázium Litoměřická) delivered a free kick from midfield into the box that found the head of Jack Donlan (Manchester, England/Oldham Sixth Form) whose deflection allowed Pirri to bury a diving header into the back of the net.
The Warrior defense held the Reivers in check down the stretch to collect the team's seventh shutout of the season. Indian Hills outscored the opposition 7-0 over the two District tournament contests. Of the eight NJCAA District tournaments across the country this weekend, the Warriors were the lone program to post two shutouts.
Eight teams have clinched an automatic berth to the national tournament while four teams will await an at-large berth as part of the NJCAA DI Men's Soccer bracket reveal on Tuesday. The national tournament takes place at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, KS.
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