10/31/25

WEST WINDSOR TWP., NJ – The #2 Mercer County CC Mustangs once again showed their nationally ranked mettle, pumping six first half goals past Lackawanna College men's soccer on the way to a 9-0 defeat of the Falcons in the Region XIX Division II men's soccer semi-final on Friday morning at Mercer County CC's soccer field.
 
The Mustangs (16-0-0) already had two dominant wins over the Falcons from the regular season, and they left little doubt in the playoff edition. Lackawanna (2-8-0) was on the back foot from the start, constantly finding itself parrying offensive attacks from the charging Mustangs. Keeper Rupert Deniz (Dickinson, ND) made an excellent kick save on a corner in the 8^th minute to keep things scoreless, and, despite the pressure, the Falcons were playing admirably to keep themselves within shouting distance.
 
Eventually, the Mustangs would find the breakthrough in the 15^th minute. After taking possession near midfield, Mercer quickly countered down the right side. A cross found the charging head of a Mustangs' player and the ball flew past Deniz for the opening goal for the Mustangs. They'd spend the next half hour peppering the Falcons' defensive zone to the tune of five more goals. The second score came in the 17^th minute on a long through pass and cross, and a third goal came in the 21^st minute on another venture down the right side, resulting in a low cross and an easy poke home for the Mustangs.
 
After Mercer scored a fourth goal in the 25^th, the Falcons had a potential opportunity in the 32^nd minute on a free kick in Mercer territory on the right side, but the cross couldn't find a Falcon head in the box, and Mercer nearly scored on the counter. The Mustangs would get their fifth goal, this time on an attack coming from the left side, beating the keeper in the 36^th minute. A sixth first half goal came in the 45^th minute, as Mercer continued to put the Falcons to the screws. That's where the score would stand heading into halftime.
 
Mercer got things started with a picture-perfect cross that looped itself into the path of an oncoming Mustang to make it 7-0 in the 47^th minute. Another goal came in the 50^th, and the final tally of the day came on another quick counter from the back in the 63^rd minute. The game would eventually come to an end in the 70^th minute via the Region XIX mercy rule.
 
The win for Mercer sends the Mustangs to the Region XIX DII championship game, likely to face Essex County College in the title tilt on Saturday, November 1^st, at 2:00pm ET at Mercer County CC's soccer field. The loss ends the year for Lackawanna College, which will exit the NJCAA and compete as a four-year athletic institution in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in the NCAA Division II next season.