Lund-Iversen’s Clutch Goal Propels Pima Men to NJCAA National Semifinals

The Pima Community College men’s soccer team, boasting a 20-1 record, secured their spot in the NJCAA Division II National Semifinals for the first time since 2021 after a hard-fought victory against Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, which ended with a 3-2 score. The match concluded in dramatic fashion, with sophomore Jacob Lund-Iversen netting a golden goal during the 93rd minute of overtime.

“We had the ball inside the 16 and I thought, ‘I know the ball is going to bounce and it’s going to slip.’ If I got the chance, I just got to be ready,” Lund-Iversen remarked about his game-winning goal. He emphasized the challenges posed by the wet field conditions, stating that the ball movements were unpredictable.

Prior to Lund-Iversen’s heroics, the Aztecs opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when sophomore Brandon Sanchez converted a penalty kick, awarded after Jose Luis Martin Montealegre was fouled in the box. The team extended their lead shortly after, with D’Andre Pickett scoring a header assisted by teammate Dohyun Koh from a corner kick.

Despite the Aztecs’ early lead, Mississippi Gulf Coast responded determinedly. Victor Moerck struck in the 67th minute, narrowing Pima’s lead before Jasintho Wielders equalized just three minutes later, forcing the match into extra time.

“I guess we love going to overtime and making it tough for ourselves,” Pickett reflected. He stressed the competitive nature of the national tournament and the commitment required from all players to pursue the championship. “You only got four games if you want to be the national champion; you have to give everything.”

Pima finished the match with a commanding total of 23 shots, while goalkeeper Jose Carlos Ortiz made four crucial saves to secure the win.

The Aztecs have become the first team to advance to the National Semifinals. Their next opponent will be determined as the other three pools complete their matches later on Tuesday night.