CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu or 518-629-7898/518-416-2137
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Sunday, October 23, 2022

The Hudson Valley Community College men's soccer program tied Tompkins Cortland in the opening round of the NJCAA Region 3 Championships and earned the right to advance to the next round as a result of the Vikings winning the post-overtime penalty kicks, 4-2, over the Panthers in Sunday afternoon at the Outdoor Athletic Complex at HVCC.

The Vikings started the game with a great deal of focus and precision, which led to the early 1-0 lead when Yan Thu put the Vikings on the board on an assisted pass from Phenyo Ward at the 17-minute mark in the game. Thu was able to catch the Panther's keeper out of position and he was able to tap the ball into the back of the net for the score. 

The Vikings took the lead into the halftime break, but the Panthers were ready as they scored 15 seconds into the second half to tie the game at 1-1. The remainder of the second half, plus an additional twenty minutes of scoreless soccer in the double overtime periods, the game went to the decisive penalty kicks. 

The Vikings lost the coin flip and had to shoot first, but that did not faze them as they hit their first three penalty kicks and Joe Kobrossi blocked the Panther's first two attempts. The Vikings ultimately won the penalty kicks 4-2 and will advance to the next round of the Region 3 Championships. 

With the win, Hudson Valley will travel to No. ranked Genesee in Batavia, NY on Wednesday, Oct. 26. The game is set for a 4 p.m. start time.