BACK TO BACK: Knights punch ticket to second straight NJCAA National Tournament

Haverhill, MA (November 2, 2025) – The top seeded Northern Essex Community College men's soccer team punched their ticket to a second straight national tournament on Sunday night under the lights at Whittier Tech as they convincingly defeated third seeded Bristol Community College by a 4-1 final in the Region 21/Northeast District Championship and improved their overall season record to 12-3-1.

After shaking off quick assault from the Bayhawks in the opening minutes the Knights kept their composure and in the 21^st minute found the back of the net to open a 1-0 lead which would stand through the remainder of the first half. Off a corner kick from Christian Colem (Nashua, NH), Oriel Jean (Haiti) headed the ball toward the goal and Maxim Chris (Lexington) found the back the of the net.

The Knights would double their lead at the 76 minute mark in the second half when Ilembo Kiza (Lowell) recorded his second goal of the post-season when he collected a long ball from Rayann Bhalla (Methuen) and beat the charging Bayhawks keeper to the ball and sent it in from eight yards out. Just 90 seconds later, Lucas Cantelli (Lowell) would collect a bouncing ball in the center of the pitch and from 20 yards out beat a diving goalkeeper to his left.

Bhalla would record a goal of his own in the 82^nd minute when a Bayhawks defender attempted to head a crossing attempt out of the six yard box and the ball came to Knights head and he put it over the outstretched hands of the Bayhawks keeper.

Bristol would tuck in a goal of their own in the 86^th minute to prevent the Knights from recording the clean sheet.

Dylan Gavin (Methuen) recorded six saves in net for the victory.

The Knights will play a national quarterfinal game on Wednesday November 12^th on the campus of Herkimer College in Herkimer, NY against an opponent and time to be determined. Tournament seeding will be released on Tuesday November 4^th at 5:30pm live on the NJCAA Network.