WICHITA, Kan. — Oliver Hawkins (Paddack Wood, England/Mascalls Academy) delivered the golden goal in the second minute of overtime to send the Carl Sandburg College men’s soccer team to a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Heartland in the Chargers’ first game of pool play at the NJCAA Division II Championship on Tuesday.
The eighth-seeded Chargers (16-4) rallied from a 1-0 halftime deficit before Hawkins’ header lifted them to a win in their first-ever appearance at nationals. Juan David Leal (Bogota, Colombia/Colegio Beato Jordan de Sajonia) made a throw-in into the box for Jean Forestal (Ocoee, Fla./Ocoee), who sent a left-footed cross into the goal area. Hawkins was all alone to knock in the header at point-blank range past the keeper for the 12th-seeded Hawks (10-8-1).
This game-winner in OT by Oliver Hawkins was PURE GOLD! ⚽️🏆 pic.twitter.com/31J3CdS0cr
— Sandburg Chargers (@SandburgNJCAA) November 16, 2021
Sandburg will face No. 1 seed CCBC Essex at 11 a.m. Wednesday in its second and final pool play contest. The winner will advance to the semifinals on Friday. The Knights defeated Heartland 1-0 on Monday in their first pool play match.
The Chargers got the equalizer in the 48th minute off a free kick by Guylberson Camille (Key West, Fla./Key West). Standing about 25 yards out, Camille rifled a shot into the top-left corner for his 19th goal of the season. Camille led the Chargers with five shots in the match and led all players with four shots on goal.
Heartland broke a defensive battle late in the first half with a goal in the 37th minute. Following a deflection, Ozman Ochoa took a shot near the top of the box that managed to get past Chargers keeper Ben Hilton (West Sussex, England/Crawley Town Academy).
The goal allowed was the only blemish in a fantastic performance by Hilton, who made nine saves. He kept the Hawks off the board early by making a pair of high-quality stops in the opening minutes. Hilton then kept the match even midway through the second half with a save at point-blank range before diving back toward the goal line to kick away the rebound.
Tuesday’s victory was the first for any Sandburg team at a national tournament since the women’s basketball team’s sixth-place showing in 2008.
All games in the tournament are broadcast live and be available on-demand through the NJCAA Network. Prices for the pay-per-view stream are $10 for a day pass, $25 for a tournament pass and $5 for the championship game. Visit njcaa.org/network for more information.
Members of the Carl Sandburg College men’s soccer team swarm Oliver Hawkins after his golden goal in the 92nd minute during Tuesday’s 2-1 Chargers victory over Heartland in pool play of the NJCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Championship.
BOX SCORE: SANDBURG VS. HEARTLAND
NJCAA DIVISION II MEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
Pool Play, Nov. 15-17
Pool A Results
#1 CCBC Essex 1, #12 Heartland 0
#8 Sandburg 2, #12 Heartland 1 (OT)
#1 CCBC Essex vs. #8 Sandburg, 11 a.m. Wednesday
Semifinals
4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Nov. 19
Championship
4 p.m. Nov. 20
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: NJCAA DIVISION II MEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
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