The Monroe Mustangs will be major players in this fall’s NJCAA post-season tournaments because five of Monroe’s teams were the best in Region XV. Monroe’s men’s soccer, women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, and men’s and women’s cross country teams were all crowned Region champions this fall and they are headed out this weekend to District and National Championships.
“This is a college-wide achievement,” said Athletic Director Bert Shillingford. “We have an incredibly supportive administration, top-flight coaches who always have the well-being of their student athletes in mind, and most important of all, we have our Mustangs, our student athletes who strive for excellence on the playing fields and in the classroom every day. We are very proud at this moment, but I can assure you, each team is going out this weekend with intention to take the next step.”
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Coach Nephtali Delgado Reyes’ team has made an incredible showing in its first as a Division I team. They are 34-4 and currently ranked at #17 in the nation. Their third consecutive Region championship season has included a remarkable 23-match win streak that contains 66-straight set wins. They won the Region title by defeating Harford this weekend. They’ll play against the home team West Plains, MO this Saturday at 2:00pm (3:00pm NY time) in a best-of five match to determine who will represent District N in the November 20-22 National Championships in Casper, WY. Last year, Monroe finished ninth in the DII nationals.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Coach Jonathan Garbar’s Mustangs won their third consecutive Region championship as a Division I team by defeating their regional competition, ASA twice during the regular season. Ranked at #2 in the NJCAA, the 13-1 Mustangs are on a twelve-game winning streak. They’ll be at Rutgers – Newark NJ this weekend for the four team, two-game, District Tournament. They open against Essex at 1:00pm on Saturday. If they advance, the finals will be Sunday at 12:00pm. The winner will earn a return trip to the Nationals which are being held in Melbourne, FL November 17-22.
MEN’S SOCCER
Coach Marcus Dibernardo’s 9-3 Mustangs won their fourth Region championship in the last five years with a stirring 5-0 defeat of ASA in the Region final. This gritty Monroe team has fought through injuries and adversity on their road to the District Tournament which will take place this weekend at Massasoit in Brockton, MA. Since starting the season 1-2, the Mustangs have rallied off wins in eight of their last nine matches, including six shutouts. The Mustangs are averaging 3.2 goals per game and have scored two or more goals in every match but one. Monroe will play Monroe CC in the first round on Saturday at 1:00pm. The final would be Sunday at 11:00am, with the winner advancing to the NJCAA National Tournament in Prescott, AZ November 17-22. In 2011 Monroe was national finalists.
CROSS COUNTRY – MEN AND WOMEN
Shirvon Greene’s first season as Head Cross Country Coach has been quite successful. Both the Monroe men’s and women’s teams won Region Championships and two Monroe athletes, Katleho Dyoyi (men) and Atara Segree (women), were named as the Region’s number one cross country runners. This weekend the coach will be taking twelve runners to compete in the national Cross Country Championships in South Plains Texas. Both the men’s and women’s races are on Saturday, November 8.