VALKEMA SCORES TWICE AS NO. 2 NORTHEAST POWERS PAST HAWKEYE

WATERLOO, Iowa – The No. 2 Northeast Community College men's soccer team was in Waterloo, Iowa Saturday for a conference clash against Hawkeye Community College. The Hawks took the victory by a final score of 3-1 to move to 2-1 in ICCAC play.

Northeast (9-2, 2-1 ICCAC) scored quickly as Ellis Oksman (Omaha, Neb.) found the back of the net in the 10th minute. Len Valkema (Leewarden, Netherlands) scored twice, including a game-clincher in the 89th-minute with an assist from Moritz Zettl (Pirka, Austria) to seal the deal. The Hawks will now turn all focus to Wednesday's match against Iowa Lakes Community College, which pairs the two squads who have played in the Region 11 Championship Games each of the last two years and the two teams who have won the last two national titles.

STAT SHEET:

Goals: Ellis Oksman (Omaha, Neb.), Len Valkema (Leewarden, Netherlands) (2)

Assists: Ludovico Vicini (Modena, Italy), Ellis Oksman, Moritz Zettl (Pirka, Austria)

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Head Assistant Coach Adriano Coppolecchia on the road victory Saturday:

"I'm very proud of our guys and their effort today," Coppolecchia said. "We faced a tough challenge on the road against a very tactical Hawkeye team and our group stuck to the plan. I loved our discipline and execution, but we have to be more clinical when we create that many chances. I was pleased with how we fought to the end and sealed the victory with a last-minute goal from Len Valkema."

Coppolecchia on the big showdown with No. 5 Iowa Lakes at home Wednesday:

"This group understands how important these games are and more than ever they are growing into a player-led team, which always leads to great things," Coppolecchia said. "Starting tomorrow, our focus shifts to Iowa Lakes. We know the rivalry and respect that has developed over between these two programs in recent years, and it will be a matchup of the last two teams to win a national title. It will be a great battle at home on Wednesday."

UP NEXT:

The Hawks will battle No. 5 Iowa Lakes Community College at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Norfolk Veterans Memorial Field in Norfolk in what is a matchup of the last two teams to win a national title.

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