By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
October 29, 2022
NEWTOWN, PA—United Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division II Bucks County (9-7-0) freshman forward Patrick McHenry scored with 6:56 left in the second overtime as the top-seeded and ninth-ranked Centurions defeated the second-seeded and sixth-ranked (tied) USCAA Division I Manor College (10-3-1) in the inaugural ESAC Men's Soccer Championship, 5-4, at Centurion Soccer Field.
Manor began the scoring when junior forward Abubakkar Bangura's (Philadelphia, PA/John Bartram) corner kick went to junior midfielder Eddie Fortescue Jr. (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon) inside the 18-yard line. Fortescue Jr.'s shot went into the right side of the net for his 16th goal of the season (6:56). The Blue Jays added to its lead when freshman forward/defenseman Doucoure Kounda's (Philadelphia, PA/Benjamin Franklin) pass inside the 18 went to Fortescue Jr. Fortescue Jr.'s shot went into the right side of the net for his second goal of the match and 17th goal of the season (22:46). Bucks County cut the lead in half when freshman midfielder Mohammed Abdul's shot inside the 18 went into the middle of the net (31:48). The Centurions tied the match when Abdul's shot around the 18 went into the middle of the net for his second goal of the match (36:13). Manor retook the lead a minute later when junior midfielder John Levy's (Philadelphia, PA/Franklin Towne Charter) pass went to Fortescue Jr. inside the 18. Fortescue Jr.'s shot went into the right-hand corner of the net for his first hat of the season (and second career) and 18th goal of the season. The Blue Jays led 3-2 at halftime. Manor outshot Bucks County 11 (six on goal) to 10 (six on goal).
The Centurions tied the match for the second time when freshman midfielder Ronaldo Montero's head shot inside the 18 went into left side of the net (53:04). Bucks County took the lead for the first time when freshman forward Nicholas Sieger's outside the 18 went to sophomore forward Jordan Haig. Haig's shot went into the middle of the net (80:15). Manor tied the match when junior defenseman Gabriel Elliott's (Philadelphia, PA/Frankford) direct kick after a Bucks County foul went to freshman midfielder/defenseman Saw Htoo (Philadelphia, PA/Mastery Charter) around the 18. Htoo's head shot went into the left side of the net for his sixth goal of the season (83:32). Bucks County outside Manor in the second 17 (13 on goal) to nine (three on goal).
The Blue Jays had all three shots (one on goal) in first overtime. The Centurions won the game in the second overtime when Haig's pass inside the 18 went to McHenry. McHenry's head went into the right side of the net (103:04). Bucks County had all three shots (one on goal) in the second overtime. The Centurions outshot the Blue Jays for the match, 30 (22 on goal) to 23 (10 on goal).
Fast Start: The Blue Jays are off to a 10-3-1 overall start this season after 14 matches. They were off to 13-0-0 starts in 2012 and 2013 when they later qualified for consecutive National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XIX Division III Men's Soccer Postseason Tournaments.
Improving from the 2021 Season: Manor improved by five wins and 0.250 percentage points from the 2021 season. The five-win improvement (Atlantis University improved by eight) and 0.250 percentage-point improvement are third (Rochester improved by 0.445) among USCAA Division I Men's Soccer schools. The Blue Jays' victory and winning percentage increase from the previous season is the largest since 2012 when they improved by nine wins and 0.333 percentage points when they were NJCAA members.
Offensively Improved: Manor has also improved its scoring from the 2021 season. Manor has scored 41 goals this season, which is the most since they scored 38 in 2018 when they were in the NJCAA. They also improved by 16 goals from the 2021 season, which is largest since the 2015 season, when they improved by 26. They have the third largest improvement among USCAA Division I Men's Soccer schools (Rochester improved by 37). The Blue Jays also improved its assists and points, by 19 and 51, respectively from the 2021 season. The 19-assist increase the second-largest in USCAA Division I Men's Soccer (Rochester improved by 25). The 51-point improvement is third in USCAA Division I Men's Soccer (Rochester improved by 86). 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 the Blue Jays scored 40 or more goals in a season was in 2015 (49). The last time Manor had 30 or more assists in a season was also in 2015 (43). The last time the Blue Jays had 100 or more points in a season was in 2018 (101).
Eddie Fortescue Jr.'s Scoring Feats: Fortescue Jr. has scored a goal in 12 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 15 of the last 16 matches. This is the most by a Blue Jay since Colville in 2012 (15). Fortescue Jr. has 14 multiple-point matches in the last 16. 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 18 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.
Fortescue Jr.'s Hat Trick Facts: Fortescue Jr. registered a hat trick in the first half versus the Centurions. He is the first Manor College Men's Soccer player with a hat trick in one half since Jared Laudenslager did it in the second half versus Delaware County Community College on September 14, 2019 when the Blue Jays were in the NJCAA. Fortescue Jr. is the first Blue Jay to register a hat trick in the first half since Jorge Chavez at Bergen Community College on September 27, 2014 when Manor was in the NJCAA. He is the first Manor Men's Soccer player to have a hat trick in a match since Rolph Miot at USCAA Division II Williamson College of the Trades on October 14, 2021. This is Fortescue Jr.'s second career hat trick. He registered his first career hat trick in his collegiate debut versus USCAA Division II Pennsylvania State University-Lehigh Valley on September 11, 2021.
Series Record (Since 2008): The Blue Jays are 6-9-0 overall (1-7-0 on the road) versus the Centurions since 2008.
Next Match: Manor awaits the USCAA Division I Men's Soccer Small College National Championship Bid Announcement 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 1. The Tournament will be at the Princess Anne Sports Complex in Virginia Beach, Virginia from Thursday, November 10 to Saturday, November 12 (Pool Play) and Virginia Beach Sportsplex from Sunday, November 13 (Finals).
Manor Athletics on Social Media:
Instagram: manor_athletics.
Twitter: @manorbluejays.
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