Tribunes top Mercyhurst for regional title

ROCHESTER - The MCC men's soccer team finished off a perfect day on the pitch with a 5-0 victory over Mercyhurst North East in the Region III, Division I championship game Saturday.

The win by the Tribunes came on the heels of a 6-0 victory by the Monroe women over Mercyhurst earlier in the day.

MCC (10-5-1) moves on to the Northeast District tournament, which will be played next weekend in New Jersey. Mercer County Community College will host.

Tournament MVP Tomtom Johnson had a goal and an assist and also anchored a stout defense that held the Saints to just two shots. Only one was on goal, which was stopped by keeper Mark Kamstra.

Monroe wasted little time taking command of the game. The Tribunes got on the board in the third minute, as Lucas Egan headed in a perfect corner kick from Nour Hasan for a 1-0 lead.

MCC made it 2-0 in the fifth minute. Johnson found a streaking Darren Gordon, who beat the Saint defense and scored. It remained a two-goal contest into the break.

Johnson found the back of the net himself in the 47th minute. The sophomore defender came up to the box on a corner kick by Julian MacDonald.  The Mercyhurst keeper initially deflected the try, but Johnson was there to head it in for a three-goal advantage.

Vasbert Harry and Dominique Modeste finished off the scoring down the stretch for the Tribunes, who took 23 shots on the game. Prince Kermue and MacDonald added assists.