Game Recap: Massanga's 2 Goals Lead Way As Mustangs Edge Spartans, 4-3

Forward David Massanga scored two goals and assisted on another as the Montgomery County Community College Mustangs defeated the Northampton Community College Spartans, 4-3, in the 2014 season-opening match played on the Blue Bell campus.

Played under steamy sun-drenched skies, the Mustangs jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first half and held off a late surge by the Spartans, in winning their first of three matches to be played over five days.

Massanga assisted on what proved to be the decisive goal, scored by freshman midfielder Eric Mariscal in the 36th minute after a mad scramble in front of the Spartans' goal.

Mustangs' head coach Obed Arango emphasized conditioning in his practices leading up to the season opener and it showed Tuesday in a back and forth affair, with each team having opportunities and possession in the other's end.

Freshman midfielder Wilson Gonzalez opened the scoring in the 11th minute for the Mustangs, but the Spartans netted the equalizer three short minutes later.

In the 21st minute, hard work paid off as sophomore midfielder Jeremiah Garcia fought off a defender and laid a pass out in front of the net that Massanga buried to give the Mustangs a 2-1 lead.

Massanga, who displayed some nifty footwork throughout the contest, gave the Mustangs a two-goal cushion with a goal in the 28th minute thanks to a nice assist by freshman midfielder Tenzin Wangyal. Massanga thought he had a third goal, but that was nullified by a handball.

Despite playing the match with no available substitutes, the Spartans controlled play in the early part of the second half as the Mustangs struggled to get the ball out of their end. Freshman Brad Strouse nearly tallied the team's fifth goal, but his long blast bounced off the top crossbar in the 80th minute.

Goalkeeper Uriel Perez held his own in net for the Mustangs, including a key stop in the 74th minute. But the Spartans were able to net a pair of late goals before the final whistle.

Freshman defenseman Cristofer Anton received a yellow card in the second half for persistent infringement.

- By Bob Kent, Sports Information Director