By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
October 15, 2022
NORTH EAST, MD—National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XX Division II Cecil College (3-10-1) scored two early goals as the Seahawks upset the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division I seventh-ranked Manor College Blue Jays (6-2-1), 2-1.
Cecil scored first on freshman midfielder Daniel Palafox' free kick following a Manor foul (1:41). The Seahawks scored its other goal on a freshman forward Akeil John penalty kick following a Blue Jay foul inside the 18-yard line (17:56). Manor cut the lead in half a little more than two minutes later when junior midfielder Eddie Fortescue Jr.'s (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon) throw-in went off of a Cecil player and into the net for his 13th goal of the season (20:07). The Seahawks led at halftime, 2-1. Manor outshot Cecil in the first half, nine (seven on goal) to eight (five on goal).
Neither team scored in the second half. The Blue Jays outshot the Seahawks in the second half, 10 (six on goal) to six (two on goal). Manor outshot Cecil, 19 (13 on goal) to 14 (seven on goal) for the match.
Manor last scored one goal in a match this season when they tied USCAA Division II and Eastern Conference Athletic Conference (ESAC) member Williamson College of the Trades in a 1-1 tie on September 27.
Fast Start: The Blue Jays are off to a 6-2-1 overall start this season after nine matches. This matches their start in 2018 when they later qualified for the NJCAA Region XIX Division I Men's Soccer Postseason Tournament. They were off to 9-0-0 starts in 2012 and 2013 when they later qualified for the NJCAA Region XIX Division III Men's Soccer Postseason Tournaments.
Blue Jays' Holman among USCAA Division I Goalkeeping Leaders (Through October 17): Freshman goalkeeper Aiden Holman (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton) is second with 61 saves and 7.33 per match in USCAA Division I. Holman is third with a 0.815 save percentage and fifth in minutes (810:00).
Eddie Fortescue Jr.'s Scoring Feats: Fortescue Jr. has scored a goal in every match this season. His nine-match goal streak in a season is the most by a Manor player since Mark Colville in 2012 (seven). Dating back to the 2021 season, he has scored a point in 12 straight matches. His 12-match point streak is the most by a Blue Jay since Colville in 2012 (15). Fortescue Jr. has 11 multiple-point matches in the last 12. 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 13 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.
Blue Jays among USCAA Division I Offensive Statistical Leaders (Through October 17): Fortescue Jr. leads USCAA Division I lead with 40 shots on goal. He shares the lead with 32 points. He is second in overall shots (30) and tied for second with three-game winning goals. His 13 goals are third. He is tied for second with junior forward Abubakarr Bangura's (Philadelphia, PA/John Bartram) with six assists. Junior midfielder John Levy (Philadelphia, PA/Franklin Towne Charter) is tied for third with 40 overall shots and fourth with 27 shots on goal.
Series Record (Since 2008): The Blue Jays are 2-1-0 overall (1-1-0 on the road) in the season series versus the Seahawks
Manor versus NJCAA Region XX (Since 2008): Manor is 4-5-0 overall (2-3-0 on the road) versus NJCAA Region XX schools.
The Blue Jays versus NJCAA (Since 2021): Since joining the USCAA, the Blue Jays are 1-3-0 overall (0-2-0 on the road) versus NJCAA schools.
Next Match: Manor hosts NJCAA Region XIX Division III Montgomery County Community College (5-7-2) on Tuesday, October 18 at 3:30 p.m. in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. The Blue Jays are 6-2-1 overall (3-0-1 at home) versus the Mustangs since 2008. Montgomery County won the previous overall contest, 2-0, at Montgomery County, on October 9, 2021. The Blue Jays defeated the Mustangs in its previous home match-up, 5-1, on October 7, 2014 when Manor was in the NJCAA. This will be the regular season finale for the Mustangs.
Next Road Match: Manor travels to play seventh-ranked USCAA Division II Bucks County Community College (5-4-0, 3-1-0 through October 17) in an ESAC match-up on Thursday, October 20 at 3:30 p.m. in Newtown, Pennsylvania. The Blue Jays are 5-6-0 overall (1-5-0 on the road) versus the Centurions since 2008. Manor defeated Bucks County in the previous overall match-up, 5-1, at Manor, on September 29, 2022. The Centurions defeated Blue Jays in its previous road contest, 2-1, in double overtime on October 21, 2021. Manor last won at Bucks County, 3-1, on October 15, 2016.
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Twitter: @manorbluejays.
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