Golden goal secures fifth Region 4 title for Morton College

CICERO, ILL. - Forward Rafael Silverio came through in the clutch with a 91' golden goal that won Morton College the 2022 NJCAA Region 4 Division II Men's Soccer Tournament Championship with a 2-1 overtime victory over Prairie State College on November 6. The win gave the Panthers their fifth Region 4 title in the past nine years. Silvero was awarded the Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player, while coach Juan Franco took home Region 4 Coach of the Year accolades for the fourth time.

Second-seeded Morton College reached the title match thanks win tournament wins of 5-0 over #7-seed College of DuPage in the quarterfinals and 3-2 over #6-seed Rock Valley College in the semifinals. The fourth-seeded Pioneers topped #5-seed Carl Sandburg College 3-0 to reach the semifinal round, where they upset top-seeded Triton College 3-0. This set up the third Region 4 championship meeting in the past four seasons between Morton College and Prairie State College.

After a scoreless first half, the Pioneers got on the board first with a 61' goal from Agbokou Geoffroy. Milani Santos of Morton College netted the equalizer off a pass from Luis Escalante to make it 1-1 in the 72', and eventually forced overtime. Not long after the extra session started, Silvero converted a pass from Joao Victory Rosito to give the Panthers the dramatic win.

Morton College (16-0-1) earned an automatic bid into the 2022 NJCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championships in Tucson, Arizona, from November 14-19. The Panthers were awarded the #4 seed and will be the highest seeded team in Pool D, which includes #5 and defending national champion Pima Community College, as well as #9 Southeastern Community College. Prairie State College (15-4-1) was awarded an at-large bid into the field of 12, and the #11-seeded Pioneers will play in Pool B against #2 Jones County Junior College and #7 Mesa Community College. Both Morton College and Prairie State College were ranked in the final NJCAA Division II Poll, sitting fourth and 11th, respectively.

Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player
Rafael Silverio - Morton College

Region 4 Coach of the Year
Juan Franco - Morton College