BROCKTON, MA – September 6, 2023 – For the second consecutive away game, the NHTI Lynx men's soccer team battled an NJCAA foe on the road; this time, they traveled to Brockton, Mass, to compete against the warriors of Massasoit Community College.  

The Lynx started the afternoon with a Salvator Bruani toe-poke past the MCC goalkeeper. Jersey #1, "Sal", found himself on the end of a Jahir Garcia feed that led him into the 6-yard box to beat the Goalkeeper, breaking the early match stalemate. Each team exchanged early blows, with several equal scoring chances, through the explosive and physically combative early 22 minutes. With the intense heat on record that day, the teams headed to the sidelines for a required water break.

At the 29-minute mark, MCC leveled the score on a Joao DeAquino finish. The same warrior player tied the score 6 minutes later, notching the Brace, but not before a tremendous solo effort from Willem Bellows of Fall Moutain HS. After numerous tough tackles, Willem continued forward through multiple MCC defenders and finally tallied a 2-2 tie to bring NHTI back to life.

The ensuing moments could have dictated a different outcome for the visiting Lynx. First-year GK Jacob Wedge committed an infraction, gaining a Yellow card, taking an MCC player with him, and drawing a favorable MCC Penalty Kick. After the Yellow Card was issued, Wedge - a hero on the day, redeemed himself by saving the first PK of his career. The enthused Lynx found new life and sparked a substantial 1st half-comeback. The remaining minutes were all about NHTI Men's Soccer....multiple substitutions were utilized, and the entire bench saw minutes on the field. A patented Kickoff play marched down the pitch and found Winnisquam HS product - Ayden Cushing blasting a low, left-footed shot through the MCC Goalkeeper's legs to finish before the Half-time Break.

The second half proved a different battle, as MCC Forward Stephen Mendes finished the match with a hat-trick.

After an intense and resilient NHTI defensive effort, the 2nd Half water intermission and several substitution rotations proved to be a downfall as the MCC Forward Mendes broke free shortly after the water break in the 69th minute to tie the match at 3-3.

As the afternoon show continued, NHTI utilized a fresh front line to break down the opposing Warrior's Defensive Back line after Billy Deciere landed a crunching tackle on a Warrior center back and found Antoine Leary for a close distance finish. Game at 4-3 for the Lynx. Despite solid defensive efforts, the Lynx eventually fell to MCC after a Mendes 75:00 tying score and a game-winner with 36 seconds remaining in the match.

Head Coach Aaron Miller had this to say about the match. 

"It was a very exciting match, and actually quite entertaining. Any Soccer match with 9 goals leads to exciting play. The team showed resilience and a strong will-to-win mentality against a tough, and well-coached opponent. This match definitely reinforced our value that 'Iron Sharpens Iron' mentality. Moving forward, it has made us stronger, it will encourage battling until the very last second every match, and has greatly revealed what needs to improve as we head into a long home-game stretch."

The Lynx move to 1–1–0 on the season and look forward to some home cooking as they open up league play on the Concord soccer pitch this Sunday against the University of Maine at Augusta at 11:00 a.m.