The Niagara College men's soccer program (2-1-2) extended their unbeaten streak to four games on Wednesday night with a 4-1 road win over the Mohawk Mountaineers at the Redeemer Sports Complex. The Knights received a pair of goals from forward Carlos Williams, while Erik Greiner and Austin MacDonell each scored once.
Niagara College men's soccer head coach Frank DeChellis was pleased with the Knights performance and credited the victory to his players' team-wide work ethic at practice. "If people saw our training sessions they would know this is a 26 player victory. The energy we have with the group really shows in the atmosphere we have at practice five times a week. It's very difficult tactically and emotionally to select an 18 player roster every game."
The Knights played some of their strongest soccer of the season during the opening 30 minutes of the match. First-year forward Carlos Williams continued his outstanding play recording a pair of quick goals in the 18th and 20th minutes. The St. Catharines native and Governor Simcoe Graduate leads the Knights in scoring with four goals in five matches this season.
Hamburg, New York native Erik Greiner put the Knights up by three in the 27th minute. The third-year midfielder is a graduate of Frontier Central High School, and is currently enrolled in Niagara College's unique Brewmaster and Brewery Management program.
When asked about his scoring play Greiner commented "I hit the ball well on that play. I felt like I had to. A lot of guys put in some serious effort to set me up, and I would have hated to disappoint."
The Mountaineers made the match 3-1 in the 75th minute on a goal by second-year midfielder Sokiri Kennedy.
Austin MacDonell recorded his first goal of the season in the 88th minute to reinstate the Knights three goal lead. MacDonell, a first-year forward from Ajax, has been a key set up man for the Knights this season, assisting on four of the Knights' eight goals in 2013.
The match also saw the return of 2012 OCAA League All-Star Joe D'Eramo. D'Eramo, the Knights' 2012 men's soccer Leadership award winner has been out since training camp with an injury. After the match the third-year defender from St. Catharines commented "whether I am sitting in the bleachers or playing, it's great to be part of a win. Watching from the stands is tough but it was great to get back on the field tonight."
The Niagara College men's soccer program now sits in third place in the OCAA West Division. The Fanshawe Falcons (2-1-1) currently sit just one point behind and have played one less match. The Falcons are in action tonight versus the Lambton Lions, before hosting the Knights on Saturday, September 28th at 2:00pm in what is shaping up to be a key contest in the OCAA men's soccer playoff picture.
