By Staff
From Staff Reports
HOUSTON The Meridian Community College men's soccer team moved to within one win of reaching its third straight NJCAA National Tournament with a 1-0 win over Northern Oklahoma on Friday afternoon.
Garthfied Whyte scored a goal from five yards out on a one-touch volley off a nice cross from Kevin King with 17 minutes to go in the game to give the Eagles a 1-0 win in the semifinals of the Mid-Southwest District Tournament being held at San Jacinto (Texas) College in Houston.
Meridian, now 16-2-2 on the season, will face the winner of Friday's match between San Jac and Richland for the district title today at 2 p.m. The winner of that match advances to the NJCAA Division I National Soccer Tournament at Tyler, Texas Nov. 15-18.
Meridian outshot Northern Oklahoma 27-6 for the game, but couldn't connect until Whyte picked up his goal.
Northern Oklahoma missed from point blank range in the second half with the game still scoreless. The Oklahoma squad had a shot at an empty net from 15 yards out but sailed it over the net.
Meridian Community College, which won the National Tournament last year, is ranked No. 4 in the country.