ANTUNES NOTCHES FOUR GOALS AS MIDDLESEX TOPS BERGEN 6-0 IN REGION 19 EAST DISTRICT A SEMIFINALS

Paula Antunes scored four goals and Kaitlyn Haak posted the Colts seventh shutout of the season as Middlesex College beat Bergen CC 6-0 in the NJCAA Region 19 East District A Semifinals.

The Colts advance to Friday's championship game where they'll face top-seeded RCSJ-Gloucester, currently the #5 team in the country, with a berth in the NJCAA National Championship on the line.

Middlesex is now 8-5-1 on the season and has secured a winning record for the first time since 2017. The last time Middlesex advanced this far in the Region 19 Tournament was 2015.

Against Bergen, Antunes got the scoring started when she converted a pass from Genesis Garces-Gomez (Sophomore/North Plainfield, NJ) in the 11^th minute. Antunes kept the scoring going herself by notching goals three more goals over a span of eight minutes as Middlesex built a 4-0 lead.

Gabriella Ardon (Freshman/Linden, NJ) scored off a pass from Jasmin Alvarado (Sophomore/Plainfield, NJ) in the 76^th minute to make the score 5-0 and Isabelle Marin (Sophomore/North Plainfield, NJ) added an unassisted tally to close the scoring with under two minutes left in the game.

Haak posted two saves in goal and was supported by a strong defensive effort from Julianna Daniels (Sophomore/Sayreville, NJ), Daniella Paredes (Freshman/South Plainfield, NJ) and Kayla Maisano (Sophomore/Helmetta, NJ).

Middlesex will return to the pitch in a bid to win the Region 18 East District A Tournament on Friday, November 1. The game will be held at Ocean CC and kickoff is scheduled for 1:30PM.