THREE FIRST HALF GOALS SEND #10 MIDDLESEX OVER UNION, 3-1

Middlesex College struck for three first-half goals and Jeremy Madrid turned away a crucial penalty kick with 13 minutes remaining as the Colts topped Union College in Men's Soccer 3-1.

The win moved the #10^th ranked Colts to 9-1-1 on the season and extended their unbeaten streak to eight games. Aside from a converted penalty kick, the Colts haven't given up a goal in 294 minutes covering over three games.

Michael Estevez (Sophomore/South Plainfield, NJ) got the Colts on the board early when he converted a pass from Jamie Madrid (Sophomore/Perth Amboy, NJ) in the game's sixth minute to give Middlesex a 1-0 lead.

Madrid found the net himself 15 minutes later for his 11^th goal of the season to extend the Colts lead to 2-0. Jayden Odum (Freshman/Piscataway, NJ) assisted on Madrid's goal.

The Colts scored for the third and final time in the waning minutes of the first half when Alberto Botello (Freshman/North Brunswick, NJ) scored his second goal of the season from eight yards out off a beautiful end line pass from Roberto Ortiz-Tapia (Freshman/Woodbridge, NJ) in the game's 43^rd minute.

After the Colts dominated the first half, Union (6-6) was able to generate some pressure in the second half, but Madrid was up to the challenge in net. After Jayson Vassallo (Sophomore/South River, NJ) registered four saves in the first half, Madrid saved three in the second half.

His biggest save came on the game's most important play.

Just minutes after the Owls converted a penalty kick, the officials called a second penalty kick on Middlesex, giving Union a golden opportunity to make it a one-goal game.

However, Madrid dove right to deflect a low shot and then pounced on a rebound one step before an Owls attacker to corral the rebound.

Middlesex held tight on defense as Union did not mount a serious threat over the game's final 12 minutes after the penalty attempt.

Middlesex returns to action Tuesday in what is perhaps their biggest match of the season against Bergen Community College. Bergen, ranked #4 nationally, and Middlesex are the top two teams in Region XIX going into the final week of the regular season and Bergen is one of the last remaining undefeated NJCAA Division III teams in the country.

Game time is set for 4:00PM at Bergen CC.