Joliet, Morton represent Region 4 on national stage
BATAVIA, NY & HUNTSVILLE, ALA. - Region 4 champions Joliet Junior College and Morton College competed at their respective NJCAA national tournaments to close out the 2024 fall season. The Wolves went 1-1 in their two matches at the Division III championships, while the Panthers dropped both of their pool play matches at the Division II tournament.
In the single-elimination tournament, seventh-seeded Joliet Junior College, making their first national tournament appearance, opened against #2-seeded Nassau Community College in the quarterfinal round, but lost by a 4-0 tally. In the consolation round, JJC blanked #6-seeded Northern Essex Community College by a 3-0 tally to claim fifth place overall. Mahmood Shehada recorded a hat trick and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Joliet Junior College was also awarded the tournament's Sportsmanship Award and finished the year 12-6-2. (JJC Recaps: Match #1 | Match #2)
�� Closing the year strong
— NJCAA Soccer (@NJCAA_Soccer) November 14, 2024
Joliet defeats Northern Essex in the second consolation game of the 2024 #NJCAASoccer DIII Men's Championship.https://t.co/T1WrbqB1g2 pic.twitter.com/Ifyojkabvv
Playing in Pool C at the 12-team national tournament, #10-seeded Morton College took on defending national champions and #3-seeded Iowa Lakes Community College in their first match and lost 2-0. The Panthers found themselves down a goal within the first minute, and the second goal came in the 59'. In their second match against #6-seeded CCBC Essex, the Panthers struck first with a 40' goal from Jules Beretta. Unfortunately, the 1-0 lead did not survive the second half as CCBC Essex notched six goals for the win and ended the Panthers season with a 12-8-3 record. This was Morton's fourth appearance at the national championships and their third in the last four years. (Morton Recaps: Match #1 | Match #2)