Jackson Scores Game-Winner in First Minute of Overtime

MANCHESTER, CT – (September 12) Jakquan Jackson (South Windsor) scored in the first minute of overtime to give MCC a 2-1 win over Massasoit CC Saturday afternoon in Manchester.

Jackson, playing his first collegiate soccer game, snuck behind Massasoit goalkeeper Joe Pitino and converted a Giusseppe Panajia (Glastonbury) pass into the game winner. Frank Busumbru (South Windsor) also had an assisted on the play.

Bryant Bermudez (East Hartford) gave MCC a 1-0 lead when he scored on an indirect kick 43 minutes into the hard-played contest.

Massasoit’s John Barros Varela tied the game with 15 minutes to play in regulation on a through pass from Manuel Veiga.

Sophomore captain Hami Kara (Wethersfield) played an outstanding game in goal, making twelve saves as MCC improves to 2-0.

Kara took advantage of the entire box all afternoon, coming out of the net to extinguish many Massasoit scoring opportunities and made a crucial save midway through the second half.

“They (Massasoit) had a free-kick just outside the 18 (yard line) that was a professional shot,” MCC head coach Jim Insinga said. “It was upper left corner and Hami extended himself to knock it down. It was an incredible, incredible save.”

Massasoit (1-2) carried the play at times and took 16 shots on goal to Manchester’s 10. The Warriors rallied from a 1-0 halftime deficit and pressured Kara and the Cougar defense throughout the second half.

“Our defenders were good,” Insinga said after his team passed an early season test on a rainy afternoon at home. “They broke down just a couple of times but all in all I’m very pleased with the defenders. Playing Massasoit, a Division I team, you expect to make some mistakes back there and you just have to recover from them and they did. We made one mistake and they scored a goal, but we got it tight again and went the distance.”

Jackson, who did not play in the first half and missed much of the preseason with injuries, was an unlikely hero.

“It was unexpected,” Insinga said he of the former Oakwood Premier player. “He had his wisdom teeth removed and missed a lot of practices, but he is a tremendous athlete. He came in and made a difference up front and was at the right spot at the right time.”

MCC plays three NJCAA Region 21 Division III game this coming week starting with a trip to Holyoke on Tuesday afternoon. ThCougars host Springfield Tech on Thursday at 4PM and Bunker Hill on Saturday at 2PM.

At Manchester, CT
Men’s Soccer:
Massasoit CC (1-2) 0 1 0 1
Manchester CC (2-0) 1 0 1 2
Goals: Massasoit – John Barros Varela; Manchester – Bryant Bermudez, Jakquan Jackson. Saves: Massasoit: Joe Pinto 6; Manchester – Hami Kara 12.