KANSAS CITY, Mo. ---- Massasoit men's soccer head coach Rui Estrela was named National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Junior College Division I Regional Coach of the Year for the East Division, announced by the league headquarters on Thursday.
Estrela guided the Warriors to their first NJCAA National Tournament appearance since 1995 by capturing the Region 21 Championship and being a finalist at the Northeast District Tournament.
The Warriors started the year 2-4 before winning nine of 10 matches to close out the regular season. Massasoit then went on to upset nationally ranked and previously undefeated Dean College, 4-3, in double overtime of the Region 21 Championship.
The team followed up the regional crown by defeating Monroe CC in the district semifinals, 2-0, which earned Massasoit an automatic berth at the National Tournament. The Warriors fell to ASA New York in the district finals.
At Nationals, the Warriors were tied with Louisburg College, the eventual NJCAA National Champion, 1-1 through 78 minutes before the Hurricanes netted a pair of late goals. Massasoit fell the next day to Iowa Western, 1-0.
Massasoit finished the year ranked No. 20 in the final NJCAA poll with a 13-8 overall record and produced five student-athletes on the All-Region 21 team.
In 10 years leading the Warriors, Estrela owns an overall record of 141-52-10 and eight Region 21 Championships to his credit.
Each Regional Coach of the Year will now be on the ballot for National Coach of the Year, set to be announced by the NSCAA on Wednesday, Dec. 16.
Junior College Regional Coaches of the Year – Division I
East: Rui Estrela, Massasoit CC
North: Tim Rooney, Lewis and Clark CC
South: Martin Dell, Louisburg College
West: David Cosgrove, Pima CC