Men's Soccer Team Wins National Championship!

Five years ago, soccer on the campus of Salt Lake Community College was in its infancy.

SLCC's administration saw the vision – a men's program filled with a diverse mix of in-state products and international players, representing the institution and the state of Utah on the national stage in NJCAA competition. That prophesy came to fruition Thursday, with No. 2 Salt Lake earning its first NJCAA national soccer championship in a 2-1 overtime victory over No. 1 Iowa Western in the NJCAA Division-I Men's Soccer championship match from Wichita, Kan.

"I'm speechless at the magnitude of this moment," said SLCC coach Mark Davis. "This win is the perfect end to what has been a challenging year for our entire campus, and especially our athletic department. Our players never quit believing in themselves and our program."

Tied at 1-1 in the 96th minute of the match, SLCC's Paul Richnow took a shot that will long be remembered for the Bruins, taking a Santiago Delfino pass and connecting for the golden goal to give Salt Lake the national title. In a back-and-forth match, the Bruins trailed early after Iowa Western's Ibrahim Conde scored an unassisted goal in the 24th minute to take 1-0 lead. Salt Lake responded in the 53rd minute, thanks to Ryen Jiba scoring on an unassisted goal to tie the match.

The closeness of the match was told through the statistics, with Iowa Western holding a narrow 11-10 edge in shots; Jiba and Samuel Owusu led Salt Lake with four shots apiece. Bruins goalie Christian Olivares finished off a strong postseason performance, making four saves in the Salt Lake win.

"All season long, our players practiced and trained for moments like this," said Davis. "We pushed ourselves to be prepared to handle opportunities like this, and (Richnow) delivered when his opportunity came in overtime.

"This win is what a championship match should be - well-played and well-coached by both parties. Neither team deserved to lose today, that’s how good both teams were."

Putting the win in perspective, the men's soccer championship is Salt Lake's third-overall national title in department history, pairing with SLCC's 2009 and 2016 NJCAA crowns in Men's Basketball. Salt Lake will close the 2021 season with an overall record of 16-1-1. This is the first men’s soccer national victory in the history of the Scenic West Athletic Conference.

Comments

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o...

Recognizing SLCC's 2025 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering

The Distinguished Faculty Lecturer is a recognition of quality work by one of Salt Lake Community College’s full-time faculty and a charge to develop that work over an academic year into a public presentation. A committee chosen by the Associate Provost for Learning Advancement selects the faculty lecturer each year. The lecture takes place in the spring. Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering Dr. Andrew Vogt’s teaching philosophy is guided by two principles, curiosity and efficiency. “Curiosity leads us to study a topic and allows us to really understand the ins and outs of research, while efficiency is all about sustainability,” he says. Andrew describes curiosity as a pure, open-minded impulse to explore, such as the ease with which children learn new concepts with virtually no instruction. Efficiency adds maturity to that childlike impulse, creating structures and pathways for accomplishment. Andrew’s work has alwa...

SLCC Alumnus and U.S. Diplomat to Speak at 2025 Commencement

Salt Lake Community College’s 2025 Commencement speaker Branigan Knowlton will share his perspectives drawn from a 12-year career as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. In serving his country, Knowlton has honed his foreign relations and diplomacy skills in Hong Kong, Mexico, Colombia and Italy. Knowlton is also a proud Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) alumnus (2002). Knowlton currently serves at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. Before reporting to the embassy, he was detailed to the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport as part of the Transatlantic Diplomatic Fellowship program. In Bogotá, Knowlton worked for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, and in Hermosillo, Mexico, he worked for the Bureau of Consular Affairs. His first assignment abroad was in Hong Kong, where he worked for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. "I've actively sought opportunities that push me into the unfamiliar, even when ...

Official SLCC Blog

Search This Blog