Toms River, NJ - The defending NJCAA Region XIX champion OCC Vikings men's soccer team kicked off their 2018-19 season with a pair of games at #3 Herkimer College, as part of the school's annual Coliseum Classic.

The Vikings, ranked #7 nationally in the NJCAA Men's Soccer Coaches Association's final pre-season poll, began their 2018-19 campaign on Saturday (8/25) against perennial powerhouse Herkimer, losing the matchup by a 4-0 final score. Ocean managed to pick up some valuable momentum in the game's second half courtesy of sophomore GK Robert Andrade, who recorded 9 saves in the loss.

Ocean returned to action the following day (8/26), and behind a sterling performance from Andrade, picked up their first win of the season in a 3-1 triumph against SUNY Broome CC. With the match scoreless after one half, Ocean hit the pitch with conviction in the second. After conceding a goal in the 68th minute, the Vikings showed resilience by quickly equalizing in the 71st minute with a beautiful head-ball goal from freshman Milan Kleva off of a service from freshmen outside back Nick Moreno. The Vikings then notched the game-winner just two minutes later from freshmen forward Michael Cambra, with an assist from freshmen James Pari. Freshmen Cory Branz added a well-placed insurance goal in the 88th minute with an assist from freshmen Harmony Bell-Gam, and the Hornets' fates were sealed. Robert Andrade recorded 10 saves, and forced a missed penalty kick in the win.

The Vikings' next challenge will arrive on Wednesday, August 29 when they travel to Pemberton, NJ to take on D-1 opponent Rowan College at Burlington County in a 2 p.m. matchup.