Haverhill, MA (September 7, 2023) – The Northern Essex Community College men's soccer team opened up the 2023 campaign in fine fashion on Thursday evening as they ran past the Seawolves of Southern Maine Community College by 5-2 final to start the season 1-0. SMCC falls to 1-1 on the young season.
NECC took a 2-1 lead into halftime as a pair of freshman each tallied their first collegiate goals. Kaleb Gianini (Lowell) broke the ice and put the Knights up 1-0 in the 25th minute with shot to the lower right corner with an assist from Estevan Arango (Nashua, NH). After SMCC tied the game in the 34th minute, Jadiel Bomfim (Nashua, NH) gave the Knights a lead they would relinquish with an assist credited to Jonathan Diaz (Methuen).
After the halftime break, Diaz would record what would turn out to be the game winner as he took a short corner from Ronan Harrington (Newburyport) and sent the ball across the box into the corner for a 3-1 lead in the 57th minute. Six minutes later, Bomfim would add his second of the game as he dribbled through a pair of defenders and sent the ball into the upper left corner for his second of the game. Gianini capped of the scoring in the 85th minute as he converted a penalty kick after being taken down in the box.
Will Paganini (Derry, NH) recorded his first collegiate win in net as he recorded six saves against eight shots on goal from the Seawolves.
NECC remains home to open the season as they will host the Mustangs of Central Maine Community College on Saturday at 1:00pm on the turf at Whittier Tech High School.