MCC Men’s Soccer Team Wins Fourth Straight

MANCHESTER, CT – (September 16) The Manchester Community College Men’s Soccer team faced its toughest test of the season when previously unbeaten Community College of Rhode Island visited campus Tuesday afternoon.

Joe Danso (West Haven) scored at the 39 minute mark of the first half and Jason Walker (Windsor) put the game away on header in the 67th minute as MCC took the physical game 2-0. Mariusz Kurzatkowski (Southington) set up both goals.

Jeff Gregor (Newington) made seven saves and completed his first shutout of the season. The sophomore captain has yet to be scored on in the three games he has played.

It was the fourth consecutive win for the Cougars (4-1) and second consecutive against an NJCAA Region XXI Division I opponent. MCC beat Massasoit Saturday afternoon 3-2 in Brockton, MA. CCRI drops to 3-1.

“We just showed we can compete with quality teams,” MCC’s Head Coach Jim Insinga said after the game. “This team (CCRI) is a Division I team and this game shows that we are going to be strong the rest of the year.”

Kurzatkowski leads the team with seven goals, but his set up work was the difference on Tuesday. “He was phenomenal,” Insinga said of the emerging star. “He brings a lot of effort and puts a lot of pressure on the defense.”

”The second goal was a big one,” Insinga said of Walker’s fourth goal of the season. “After that we were able to put a lot of defensive players in and we locked it in.”

Danso’s goal, his fourth of the year, came on a cross from Kurzatkowski from 20 feet out, breaking the scoreless tie late in the first half.

MCC travels to Framingham, MA on Saturday for a 1 pm Region XXI Division III game against MassBay CC.

at Manchester, CT

Manchester CC 2 CC Rhode Island 0
CC of Rhode Island (3-1) 0 0 0
Manchester CC (4-1) 1 1 2

Goals: M – Joe Danso, Jason Walker. Saves: RI – Denis Peixoto and Jason Oliveira 8 combined; M – Jeff Gregor 7.
Of Note: Mariusz Kurzatkowski assisted on both goals.