By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
October 22, 2022
JENKINTOWN, PA—Three Manor College (9-2-1) players scored two goals each as the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division I fifth-ranked Blue Jays defeat the NJCAA Region XIX Division III Lehigh Carbon County Cougars (4-10-3), 8-1, in its regular season finale for both teams.
Manor opened the scoring early in the match. Junior midfielder Eddie Fortescue Jr.'s (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon) pass inside the 18-yard line went to freshman forward Michael Varallo (Philadelphia, PA/String Theory) around the six. Varallo's shot went into the left side of the net for his second goal of the season (3:34). The Blue Jays scored its next goal when junior forward Abubakkar Bangura's (Philadelphia, PA/John Bartram) corner kick went to freshman midfielder/defenseman Saw Htoo (Philadelphia, PA/Mastery Charter).. Htoo's head shot went into the left side of the net for his fourth goal of the season (21:25). Manor's Fortescue Jr. scored his 15th goal of the season on a penalty kick that went into the left side of the net, following a Lehigh Carbon hand ball inside the 18 (25:27). The Blue Jays finished off its first-half scoring when Htoo's pass on the Cougar side of the field went to freshman forward/defenseman Doucoure Kounda (Philadelphia, PA/Benjamin Franklin) around the 18. Kounda's shot went into the middle of the net for his fourth goal of the season (27:44). Manor's four first-half goals are tied for the most in the first half this season. They scored that amount versus Central Pennsylvania College on September 24. The Blue Jays outshot the Cougars, 22 (14 on goal) to three (two on goal). Manor's 22 overall shots are the most since they also had 22 in the season opener versus Pennsylvania State University-Hazleton on September 12.
The Blue Jays built on its lead in the second half. Junior midfielder Rodrigo Zurita's (Norristown, PA//Norristown) pass outside the 18 went to fellow junior midfielder John Levy (Philadelphia, PA/Franklin Towne Charter) inside the 18. Levy's shot went into the eight side of the net for his fourth goal of the season (66:07). Lehigh Carbon scored its only goal of the match when Avery Moody's shot around the 18 went into the left side of the net (79:29). The Blue Jays responded, scoring three goals in the next seven minutes. Levy's pass inside the 18 went to Htoo. Htoo head shot went into the left side of the net for his second goal of the match and fifth of the season (80:27). Junior defenseman Gabriel Elliott's (Philadelphia, PA/Frankford) pass around the 18 went to Kounda.. Kounda's shot went into the left side of the net for his second goal of the match and fifth of the season (85:32). Levy competed the Blue Jays' scoring when his corner kick went into the upper right-hand corner of the net for his second goal of the match and fifth of the season (87:52). Manor outshot Lehigh Carbon in the second half, 31 (17 on goal) to five (two on goal). The Blue Jays outshot the Cougars, 53 (31 on goal) to 8 (four on goal) for the match. Manor's four second-half are the most since Hazelton on September 12. The Blue Jays' 31 second-half overall shots 53 for the match are the most this season.
Fast Start: The Blue Jays are off to a 9-2-1 overall start this season after nine matches. They were off to 12-0-0 starts in 2012 and 2013 when they later qualified for the National Junior Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XIX Division III Men's Soccer Postseason Tournaments.
Home Sweet Home: Manor finished the regular season unbeaten at home (7-0-1). The Blue Jays previously finished unbeaten at home in 2006 (8-0-1) when they were Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (EPCC) members. The Blue Jays have outscored its opponent at home this season 30 to 12. They have posted winning home won-loss records four times in the previous five seasons. Manor previously scored 30 or more at home in a season since 2013 (38) when they were NJCAA members.
Holding onto the Halftime Lead: Manor is 5-0-0 overall (4-0-0 at home) when leading at halftime. They have outscored its opponents 18 to eight in the second half. The Blue Jays also have held its opponents scoreless in the second half in eight out of 12 matches.
Offensively Improved: The Blue Jays have improved its scoring from the 2021 season. Manor has scored 37 goals this season, which is the most since they scored 38 in 2018 when they were in the NJCAA. They also improved by 12 goals from the 2021 season, which is largest since the 2015 season, when they improved by 26. The Blue Jays also improved its assists and points, by 15 and 39, respectively from the 2021 season. The last time they this sizable improvement was in 2015 when they improved by 30 assists and 74 points from the 2014 season. The last time Manor had 30 or more assists in a season was in 2015 (43) when they were in the NJCAA. The last time the Blue Jays had 100 or more points in a season was in 2018 (101) when they were also in the NJCAA.
The Defense Rests (Again): Manor have held its opponents to one or fewer goals in eight of 12 matches this season. The Blue Jays have also limited opposing offenses to single-digit overall shots in nine of 12 matches this season.
Dempster Head Coach Milestone Watch: Manor Head Men's Soccer Coach John Dempster won his 92nd career match with the victory versus Lehigh Carbon. He won his first match, 4-1, versus NJCAA Region XIX Division III Passaic County College on October 5, 2010 at home. Dempster won his 25th, 6-0, versus Atlantic Cape Community College on October 10, 2012, at home. He won his 50th, 10-0, at Pennsylvania State University-Schuylkill on September 28, 2015 in Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania. Dempster won his 75th, 5-1, at USCAA Division II Pennsylvania State University-Lehigh Valley on September 28, 2019. His overall won-loss record is 92-86-2 (0.517).
Eddie Fortescue Jr.'s Scoring Feats: Fortescue Jr. has scored a goal in 11 matches this season which is the most by a Manor player since Mark Colville in 2013 (13). Dating back to the 2021 season, he has scored a point in 14 of the last 15 matches. This is the most by a Blue Jay since Colville in 2012 (15). Fortescue Jr. has 13 multiple-point matches in the last 15. This is most by a Manor player since Colville had 11 straight in 2013. He is also the first Blue Jay with 10 goals in a season since Zola Makanda in 2017. His 15 goals in a season are the most since Colville scored 23 in 2013. Fortescue Jr. is the first Blue Jay with 30 or points in a season since Colville contributed 68 in 2013.
Series Record (Since 2008): The Blue Jays are 8-0-0 overall (4-0-0 at home) versus the Cougars since 2008.
Next Match: Manor travels to play Bucks County Community College for the Eastern States Athletic Conference Championship on Saturday, October 29 at Noon in Newtown, Pennsylvania. The Blue Jays are 5-7-0 overall (2-5-0 on the road) versus the Centurions since 2008. Manor last won at Bucks County, 3-1, on October 15, 2016. Manor won the first match-up of this season, 5-1, on September 29 at Manor. Bucks County won the next contest, 5-2, on October 20 at Bucks County.
Manor Athletics on Social Media:
Instagram: manor_athletics.
Twitter: @manorbluejays.