By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
August 27, 2019
JENKINTOWN, PA—Middlesex County College (1-0-0) sophomore goalkeeper Nicholas Hoffman made 12 saves and contributed an assist as the Blue Colts defeated the Manor College Blue Jays (0-1-0), 3-1, in a non-conference contest in the season opener for both schools.
Middlesex opened up the scoring in the first half. Freshman midfielder Skylar Malone's pass inside the 18-yard line went to freshman forward John Bangura inside the six. Bangura kicked it into the right side of the net (39:49). Manor tied the score less than a minute later. Malone fouled freshman midfielder Jared Laudenslager (Philadelphia, PA) inside the 18. Laudenslager's penalty kick went past Hoffman into the net (40:39). The Blue Colts took the lead for good less than two minutes later in the half. Following a Blue Jays' foul inside the 18, freshman forward Nicolas Garafalo's penalty kick gave the Blue Colts the edge, 2-1 (42:07). The Blue Colts outshot the Blue Jays nine (three on goal) to four (two on goal) in the first half.
The Blue Colts scored the only goal for either school in the second half. Hoffman's punt went beyond the 50 to sophomore defenseman William Cobb. Cobb's kick on the right side of inside the 18 gave Middlesex County a 3-1 advantage (65:02). Manor outshot Middlesex County, 15 (12 on goal) to 13 (seven on goal), in the second half. The Blue Colts outshot the Blue Jays, 22-19, for the contest.
Dempster Reaches Milestone: Today's match marked the 150th for 10th-year Head Coach John Dempster (72-72-6).
Series Record: Middlesex County leads the season series, 3-5-1 (2-2-0 at Manor).
Season Openers: The Blue Jays are 10-6-1 in season openers since 2004. They are 7-5-1 since joining the NJCAA in 2008. This is the third consecutive season they opened versus a Region XX Division I school. The Blue Jays are 5-4-1 in season openers under Dempster.
Home Openers: The Blue Jays are 7-7-1 in home openers since 2005. They are 5-6-1 since joining the NJCAA in 2008. The Blue Jays are 4-5-1 in home openers under Dempster.
Next Home Game: Manor hosts Division III Delaware County Community College Saturday, September 14. The Blue Jays are 15-2-0 overall (9-1-0 at home) versus the Phantoms (since 2002). Manor won, 2-0, at home on September 28, 2017 in its previous meeting. The Blue Jays are 7-1-0 versus the Phantoms under Dempster.
Next Game: Manor travels to Region XIX Division I and Maryland JUCO member Cecil College (0-0-0) in North East, Maryland at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 28. The Blue Jays shut out the Seahawks in the previous matchup, 3-0, on August 24, 2018. Manor leads the season series 2-0-0.