Men's soccer: IHCC wins regular-season regional title
Oct. 7—OTTUMWA — The Indian Hills men's soccer program has only been to a national tournament once.
For the first time in program history, the Warriors will have a chance to earn a national tournament berth on their home field.
Lucas Bauer's second-half goal propelled the 11th-ranked Warriors to a historic 2-1 victory over ninth-ranked Iowa Western on Saturday afternoon. Historic in the fact that the Warriors, by clinching the outright Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) regular season title with the win and the program's first regular-season series sweep of the Reivers, will play host to the upcoming National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I Midwest District Tournament.
The Warriors improve to 6-1-5 overall on the year. Indian Hills has not lost in their last seven matches.
"Proud of the way the boys battled," IHCC head men's soccer coach Felix Vu said. "The energy from every player on the pitch and the bench was fantastic and a testament to their character."
Indian Hills used a first half goal from sophomore Gustavo Marques to take an initial lead before the Reivers squared things up before intermission. The eventual game-winner came from the foot of Bauer in the 59th minute while the Warrior defense kept the Reivers in check over the final 31 minutes of action.
Freshman Harvey Sellers secured the win in net for the Warriors to remain unbeaten in net to begin his collegiate career. Sellers improves to 3-0-4 on the year. Sellers has allowed just two goals over his last six outings and owns a 0.49 goals against average on the year
The first goal of the match came at the 28:15 mark of the first half as a streaking Marques headed home a corner kick from the boot of Andrea Oriolesi from close-range. The Reivers responded 5:30 later after earning a penalty kick in the box, an opportunity the home team converted for the equalizer.
The two sides were deadlocked entering the second half, before Bauer took advantage of a Reiver miscue in the 59th minute. The freshman striker forced a turnover in the Reiver box to create an open net opportunity. Bauer received a pass from Hayato Morimoto before firing a strike on target for the go-ahead goal.
The Warrior defense held strong over the final 31 minutes of action, limiting the Reiver scoring chances to earn the program's first-ever regular season conference title.
Marques' first half goal gave the sophomore his fifth goal of the year, tied for the team lead, and 14th career tally. The sophomore now ranks sixth in school history for career goals and tied for eighth all-time with 33 career points.
The path to the NJCAA National Championship now goes through Ottumwa as the Warriors will host the four-team Midwest District Tournament Nov. 3-5. Indian Hills secures the top spot in the tournament and will play the regular season winner of NJCAA Region 4 while Iowa Western will play the regular season winner of NJCAA Region 24.
The first round gets underway on Friday, Nov. 3. The championship match is set for Sunday, Nov. 5 with all games played at the IHCC Soccer Complex. The winner earns an automatic bid to the NJCAA National Championship, which begins Nov. 12 in Wichita, Kansas.
Next up for the Warriors is the regular season finale at No. 16 Lewis & Clark College on Wednesday in Godfrey, Illinois.
