DRYDEN — It couldn't have started any better for the North Country Community College men's soccer team Sunday.

Just 41 seconds into the NJCAA Region III Tournament championship game against Herkimer Community College, Ernest Afful was fouled in the box and converted the penalty kick to give the Saints a 1-0 lead.

But, the 19-time defending regional champions broke loose for four goals in the second half, two by Steve Medwinter, and outlasted the Saints, 4-1, at Tompkins-Cortland Community College to make it 20 titles in a row.

Following the goal by Afful, the Region III Player of the Year, the Saints made some other good runs and kept the pressure on.

But, with less than three minutes gone in the second half, Medwinter converted a Kariym Balthazar pass to tie it.

Then with 13:00 gone in the second stanza, the two hooked up again to give the Generals the lead. Medwinter, chosen as the tournament's Most Valuable Player, grabbed a pass from Balthazar near midfield, and beat the North Country C.C. defense down the right side and then keeper Zack Peck.

The Generals then turned up the pressure, getting two more goals, and piled up the shots on goal the rest of the way.

Mike Roopchandsingh and Balthazar added goals at 33:00 and 35:00, respectively, to complete the scoring.

Herkimer finished with a 23-8 advantage in shots on goal. James Taber made two saves for the Generals and Peck five stops for the Saints.

With the win, Herkimer will host a NJCAA national semifinal game on Saturday.

Afful, Liam Gilbert and Rhys Calvano represented the Saints on the all-tournament team.

—

Herkimer 4, North Country 1

North Country C.C. 1 0 — 1

Herkimer C.C. 0 4 — 4

First half- 1, NCCC, Afful, :41.

Second half- 2, HCC, Medwinter (Balthazar), 3:00. 3, HCC, Medwinter (Balthazar), 14:00. 4, HCC, Roopchandsingh, 33:00. 5, HCC, Balthazar, 35:00.

Shots: Herkimer 23, North Country 8.

Saves: Taber, HCC, 2. Peck, NCCC, 5.