MHS grad reaches soccer finals
By: Bob Nuse
Anthony Moy put off the experience of playing Division I soccer for a couple of years. But by doing so, he’s had a chance to enjoy some soccer experiences than many players miss.
For the second straight year, the Montgomery High graduate advanced to the National Junior College Final Four with the Mercer County Community College men’s soccer team. Last year, the Vikings fell in the national semifinals. This year, they reached the national championship game before falling to Jefferson College, 2-1, in overtime.
"It’s definitely a great experience and atmosphere to go to the national tournament and make it as far as we have the last two years," Moy said. "You go to nationals and play against some of the best junior college programs in the country. A lot of guys who go right to four-year schools don’t get a chance to go to the national finals. For us to do what we’ve done the last two years is a great achievement.
"Making the finals this year was unexpected. I lot of people thought we had fallen off this year because we got off to a rough start and we had lost so many players from last year’s team. But it’s not how you start the season, it’s how you finish. We had a slow start, but we really came on at the end."
A slow start for Mercer isn’t what most teams would consider a slow start. The Vikings opened the season with four straight wins, then went 3-2-2 over the next seven games. The team would not lose again until Sunday’s final against Jefferson.
"I think there were some doubters there for a little while with fans and players, especially when we lost some games early," Moy said. "But we had some team talks and I think that really brought us together. We knew we had to pick up the slack and come together as a team instead of as individuals. We weren’t clicking at the beginning of the year, but it came together at the end."
Mercer finished the regular season with a 10-2-3 record, then got hot in the post-season. They won a pair of games in the Region XIX tournament, including a 4-0 victory over Essex in the final. The Vikings then won a pair of 1-0 games in the District Tournament to advance to the National Tournament in Tyler, Texas.
Mercer beat Yavapai on penalty kicks, then topped Louisburg (N.C.), 2-1, in the semifinals. The championship game was one Moy and his teammates felt like they should have won, but fell just short.
"It was frustrating because it was one of those games where we dominated and created a lot of chances and just could not get that one goal," Moy said. "It seemed like everything was going for us. The top teams had been getting knocked off. Georgia Perimeter lost early on and then we beat Yavapai and Louisburg. Jefferson was a team that was in just its second season as a program. We had beaten them, 4-0, last year in the first round. But they were a big and strong team and they played well.
"I think it was just a game where we were unlucky."
While Moy would have liked to have won a national championship during his two years with Mercer, he isn’t disappointed with his decision to attend the junior college.
"I had some choices for four-year schools when I was coming out of high school, but I ran into some academic problems," said Moy, who scored five goals this season. "Going to Mercer really changed my life. People look at going to a junior college and say, wow, especially when you’re coming out of a high school program like Montgomery that has sent players to some big Division I schools.
"Coming here has really paid off for me. I’ve improved my academics and I’ve been able to keep in touch with the coaches at the four-year schools. The diversity of playing here is great. Playing with guys from different backgrounds and cultures, I love it. That’s the way I like to play with the quick, one-two passing."
Moy missed seven games earlier in the season after suffering an ankle injury in a pre-season scrimmage. But he eventually came around and was a key contributor to the Vikings’ success.
"It took me a little while to get back into shape to be match fit and playing at the level I knew I had to be at," said Moy, who started the season at forward before moving back to left midfield. "I set high expectations for myself. Our coach says he knows that I have what it takes to play at the Division I level. It was tough at the beginning of the season with the injuries, but I felt like I came around and did well at the end of the season."

