HAVERHILL, Mass. - NHTI Men's Soccer opened the 2026 regular season Tuesday evening with an 8-1 loss to Northern Essex Community College at Whittier Tech High School.
Northern Essex struck early, taking the lead just 2:47 into the match on an unassisted goal from Gabe Soave. Thomas Kotas doubled the advantage in the seventh minute before adding another at 22:23, helping the Knights build a 3-0 lead midway through the opening half. Kwasi Boateng and Gabriel Garcia added goals late in the period to extend the Northern Essex advantage to 5-0. The Lynx entered the break trailing 5-0.
NHTI got on the board just after halftime when Delvaughn Daley (Randolph, Mass.) found the back of the net on an unassisted goal. Daley led the Lynx attack with five shots, putting all five on goal, and accounted for NHTI's lone tally of the evening.
Northern Essex added three goals in the second half. Kotas scored at 49:34 and again at 69:00 to finish the night with four goals, while Cristopher Pacheco closed the scoring in the 85th minute. Matheus Martins recorded three assists for the Knights.
NHTI finished with 18 shots, including five on goal, while Northern Essex recorded 33 shots and held a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks. Kombozi Amosi (Manchester, N.H.) and Japhari Ramadhani (Manchester, N.H.) each recorded three shots for the Lynx, while Ben Taylor and Stephen Abair (Milford, N.H) added two apiece.
Goalkeeper Daniel Sherkanowski (Bristol, N.H.) made five saves in the contest.
The match marked the first regular-season contest at NHTI for interim head coach Jarrod Smith (Watertown, N.Y.).
UP NEXT
The Lynx return to action Thursday, September 17 when they travel to Central Maine Community College for their Yankee Small College Conference opener. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
