Haverhill, MA (November 3, 2024) – The Northern Essex Community College men’s soccer team, ranked sixth in the latest national poll,  captured the program’s first-ever Region 21 and Northeast District Championship on Sunday night with a 5-3 win over Quinsigamond Community College. In the process, the team won its 14th straight game and punched its ticket to the program’s first-ever national tournament, scheduled to begin on Tuesday, November 12th in Batavia, NY on the campus of Genesee Community College.

The Knights jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the game’s opening 30 minutes before the Wyverns scored a quick pair of goals, while NECC would get one back and take 4-2 into the halftime break.

Jadiel Bomfim (Nashua) got the scoring started in the 11th minute when he beat the keeper to his left with an assist credited to Sam Lucena (Tyngsborough). Lucas Cantelli (Lowell) added a goal in the 29th as he snuck one just inside the left post on a pass from Bomfim.

Edwin SamMbaka (Paris, FR) put the Knights up 3-0 when he blasted a rocket past the goalie from 25 yards out.

The Wyverns would net a pair of quick goals just 90 seconds apart before Jonathan Lopes (Nashua, NH) added a cushion in the 36th minute when he took a cross in the box from Bomfim who picked up his second assist of the game.

Following the break, the game was scoreless until the 75th minute when Lucena added an insurance goal as the Wyverns would score a third goal with two minutes remaining in the contest.

The full NJCAA national tournament bracket will be released on Tuesday at 3:00 pm live on the NJCAA Network.