#19 Otero College Stuns Northeastern Junior College!

To start the regular season, the Otero College Men's Soccer Team, known as the Rattlers, secured a strong victory against Northeastern Junior College (NJC) on September 6, 2025. The match ended with a decisive 3-0, marking a win for the Rattlers in their opening match of Region 9 play. During the first half, the Rattlers demonstrated strong offensive and defensive coordination, concluding the half with a 1-0 lead. Ken Naito, brilliantly assisted by Zackarya Oumamass, scored the opening goal, setting a positive tone for the team. In the second half, the Rattlers increased their intensity, with Prince-Ivan Nginyu and Hector Pena both finding the back of the net, assisted by Mohammed Baalbaki and Koji Obana, respectively. This strategic and relentless offensive play solidified their lead and secured the victory. Goalkeeper Ivan Madera played a pivotal role in the team's success, making five crucial saves to maintain a shutout. The defensive unit, under Madera's watch, was impenetrable, playing a key part in the team's overall strategy and success. Coach Garcia praised the team's performance "The boys showed great character development and courage. They moved the football well and played with urgency, overall top performance." Edgar Marquez, a player for the Rattlers, echoed the sentiment "Our first game of the season and it couldn't have gone better, what a way to fight as a family. It was also exciting to see all the boys play and enjoy this first game." Looking forward, the Rattlers are set to face #12 Northwest College on September 12, 2025, at Otero College, striving to build on their current record of 2-2-1 (1-0) in Conference. Come out and support the Rattlers at their first home game of the season!