NIACC advances to regional semifinals
MASON CITY - For the first time since 2013, the NIACC men's soccer team has advanced in the regional tournament.
NIACC (6-8) topped Scott CC 4-1 Wednesday in the opening round of the NJCAA Region XI Division II tournament on the NIACC campus. Before Wednesday's tournament victory, the last time the Trojans advanced in the regional tournaemnt was with a 4-3 win over Indian Hills in 2013.
NIACC, the fourth-seed, advances to play top-seed Southeastern (11-1-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday in the regional semifinals. The No. 9 Blackhawks received a first-round bye in the regional tournament.
Southeastern topped NIACC 2-0 and 1-0 in their two regular season meetings.
In Wednesday's win over Scott CC, sophomore Luke McMahon recorded his third hat trick of the season to lead the Trojans. McMahon scored the Trojans' first goal at the 41:31 minute mark of the first half on an assist from Hayden Bunch.
McMahon, who leads NIACC with 12 goals, also scored the Trojans' third goal on an assist from Axel Deligdisch at the 14:04 mark of the half. He scored his third goal of the match at the 27:02 mark of the second half on an assist from Lewis Bowes that gave the Trojans a 4-0 lead.
McMahon also recorded hat tricks this season against Hawkeye CC on April 17 and Scott CC on April 24.
Deligdisch scored NIACC's other goal on Wednesday at the 16:04 mark of the first half.
Scott CC received a goal from Carson Cocquit with 1:19 left in the second half.
In the other first round contest on Wednesday, third-seed Northeast CC blanked DCTC 3-0. Northeast CC plays at second-seed Hawkeye CC at 1 p.m. Saturday in the other regional semifinal contest.
The regional championship is set for Tuesday, May 18 at the site of the highest remaining seed.
NIACC's 2021 season (6-8)
Marshalltown CC 2, NIACC 1 (2OT)
Iowa Central 1, NIACC 0
Iowa Western 3, NIACC 0
NIACC 7, DCTC 1
NIACC 3, Hawkeye CC 2 (OT)
Southeastern 2, NIACC 0
Northeast CC 2, NIACC 1 (OT)
NIACC 4, Scott CC 3
NIACC 6, DCTC 0
Southeastern 1, NIACC 0
Hawkeye CC 4, NIACC 2
Northeast CC 2, NIACC 1
NIACC 4, Scott CC 0
NJCAA Region XI (Division II) tournament
NIACC 4, Scott CC 1
