The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk men’s and women’s soccer teams captured their respective National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 2 Championships against University of Arkansas Cossatot (UA Cossatot) over the weekend, with the Nighthawk women playing the Colts to a 1-1 draw and the Nighthawk men defeating the Colts, 2-0.
NPC (1-8-1) struck first in women’s action, with sophomore midfielder Alondra Limon (Alvin, Texas) scoring the go-ahead goal 15 minutes into the match, assisted by sophomore back Cynthia Lopez (Carthage, Texas). Tough defense paced the Nighthawks through the remainder of the first half, protecting NPC’s 1-0 advantage after 45 minutes.
With 11 minutes remaining in the second half, UA Cossatot evened the score, 1-1, but time ran out on the Colts’ last-minute rally. Due to goal differential established in the team’s previous meeting, where NPC defeated UA Cossatot, 3-0, the Nighthawks celebrated their second-consecutive NJCAA Region 2 Championship victory.
Freshman goalkeeper Lily Paslay (Brookland) recorded five saves in the match for NPC.
Defense dictated the first half of men’s action between NPC (5-6-2) and UA Cossatot,
with each team battling to a scoreless stalemate at halftime. In a fight to the finish
line, the Nighthawks lit up the scoreboard twice in the final 20 minutes of the match,
scoring the go-ahead goal from sophomore back Patrick Irving (Liverpool, England),
followed by the team’s final goal on a strike from freshman winger Yadiel Cardona
(Houston, Texas). With the victory, NPC captured its third-consecutive NJCAA Region
2 title.
Freshman goalkeeper Tim Grahmann (Rudesheim am Rhein, Germany) recorded two saves for the Nighthawks in the win.
Nighthawk women’s soccer will travel to Missouri to face the winner of NJCAA Region 16 in the Central District Championship match Saturday, November 9. NPC men’s soccer will compete in the Central District Championship tournament November 8-9, hosted by the winner of NJCAA Region 24 in Illinois.
For more information on schedules, rosters and more, visit Nighthawk Athletics online. Fans can also follow the Nighthawks all season on social media.
Facebook: Nighthawk Athletics
Instagram: nighthawkathletics
X: @NPC_Nighthawks