MCC’s Hami Kara Named All-American

MANCHESTER, CT – Manchester Community College sophomore goalkeeper Hami Kara (Wethersfield) was selected as a first team, Division III All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Kara, a 2008 Wethersfield High graduate, led all Division III goalkeepers with a 0.25 GA, allowing just four goals over 19 games (1466 minutes), while making 146 saves for the 16-2-1 Cougars.

Kara, who was a team captain and an NJCAA Region 21 first team selection, was the NJCAA Division III Player of the Week for the week of Sept 23, 2009, after leading the Cougars to three Region 21 shutout victories. Kara had a hand in 15 shutouts in 2009, including back-to-back, 3-0 victories in the Division III Region 21 tournament held in Manchester on October 31st.

“It’s all about the defense,” MCC coach Jim Insinga said after his Cougars successfully defended their Region 21 title. “Hami is the best keeper in country and has been the leader of this team all season.”

The Cougars lost to Nassau C. C. 1-0 in the District 3 Championship in Garden City, NJ on November 7th. MCC was ranked seventh in the final NJCAA Division III National Poll in 2009, went unbeaten in Region 21 play (16-0-1), and will carry a 27-game Region 21 winning streak into the 2010 season.

MCC has won six Region 21 titles and made two trips to the National Championship tournament in ten seasons under Insinga (115-69-9).