VALKEMA SCORES TWICE AS NO. 3 HAWKS PICK UP FIRST VICTORY OF 2025 POSTSEASON

NORFOLK, Neb. – The No. 3 Northeast Community College men's soccer team returned home Sunday for a matchup with Dakota County Technical College in the second round of the Region 11 Tournament. The Hawks took down the visiting Blue Knights in the matchup by a final score of 2-0 to advance to the semifinals of the tournament on Wednesday.

Northeast (14-3-1, 6-2-1 ICCAC) got on the board first with a penalty kick from Len Valkema (Leewarden, Netherlands) in the first half and Valkema added an insurance goal late in the second half with assists from Yosuke Shimizu (Kobe, Japan) and Matias Fuentes Serey (Santiago, Chile). Valkema is currently tied for ninth in the NJCAA with 17 goals scored this season.

In the semifinals on Wednesday, Northeast will take on No. 7 Iowa Lakes Community College at 2 p.m. in Spencer, Iowa in a showdown pitting the two previous NJCAA DII men's soccer national champions against each other. The Hawks took down the Lakers during the regular season by a final score of 3-0 back on October 1 in Norfolk.

STAT SHEET:

Goals: Len Valkema (Leewarden, Netherlands) (2)

Assists: Yosuke Shimizu (Kobe, Japan), Matias Fuentes Serey (Santiago, Chile)

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Head Men's Soccer Coach Adam Potter on the victory Sunday:

"It was a crazy game," Potter said. "It was wild and bonkers. You win and advance, and we found a way to scrap two goals. It was a very physical and intense match. We found a way to grit it out and now we can head to Iowa Lakes on Wednesday."

Potter on the clash with Iowa Lakes upcoming in the semifinals:

"It will be a game with two top-seven teams in the country," Potter said. "It will have the feel of a game at the national tournament with an opportunity to get to the region final. We have to find a way to get it done. They will have a chip on their shoulder because we beat them on our field here, and now we have to go and make it happen again. These are the games you want to play in."

UP NEXT:

The Hawks will take on Iowa Lakes Community College at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Spencer, Iowa in the semifinals of the Region 11 Tournament.

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