Men’s Soccer wins first Regional Championship
T he Lincoln Trail College men’s soccer team claimed its first Region 24 Championship in just its third year of play. The Statesmen advanced to the Region 24 Championship game with a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over Illinois Central at Statesmen Park on October 21. Ryosuke Miyata opened the scoring off an assist from Guilherme Melchiori. Two minutes later ICC tied the game and it stayed that way through regulation.
With a Region 24 Championship, the Statesmen advanced to the Midwest District to face 11th-ranked Iowa Western. After the two teams remained tied 2-2 after double overtime, the game went to penalty kicks with the Reivers securing the win in the 13th round. Amicone PoY Guadalupe Amicone was named the Region 24 Co-Player of the Year and was a First Team All-Region selection. Amicone led the Lady Statesmen with 10 goals and 23 points. Williams Drafted in 9th Round Lincoln Trail College’s Jeron Williams (’21) was selected in the 9th round of the Major League Baseball Draft. Williams was selected with the 284th pick overall by the Houston Astros. Williams was the 2023 MAC Player of the Year and a Collegiate Baseball All-American at the University of Toledo, where he transferred after graduating from LTC. He started all 55 games for the Rockets in the 2023 season and led the NCAA in steals with 49. He hit .403 with 14 home runs, 48 RBIs, 16 doubles, and four triples. In his sophomore season at LTC, Williams played in 53 games, hitting .276 with two home runs, 32 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases. He was a second-team preseason Prep Baseball Report JUCO All-American in 2021.
NJCAA overtime rules employ the Golden Goal, so the first team that scores wins. Leo Sanches drove a corner kick to the near post. ICC’s goalkeeper attempted to punch the ball away, but it bounced in a way that Inchun Han was able to put the ball in the back of the net off of a header for the game-winner. The win capped off a historic home season for the Statesmen as they were undefeated at Statesmen Park. “The crowd support was fantastic, the energy in the park was ecstatic, and the result was everything the Statesmen could have wanted,” said Coach Javi Milla. “Thank you for all of the support this season.” LTC played Lewis & Clark Community College in the Region 24 Championship game. After splitting games during the regular season, the Statesmen claimed the Championship with a 2-0 win. Melchiori put the Statesmen on the board in the 25th minute and Miyata scored in the 62nd minute. Gonzalo Onrubia had a clean sheet in goal with six saves.
ABOVE: The men’s soccer team celebrates with the Region 24 Champtionship Trophy after beating Lewis & Clark 2-0.
28 LTC Annual Report
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