Suffolk Community College

To win the Division III championship, the Clippers first had to beat Richland College from Texas 1-0 in Friday’s semifinals. Richland and Herkimer had won nine of the previous 11 national championships and Herkimer’s appearance Sunday extended to 12 the number of years at least one of the two premier programs was a finalist.

The Thunderducks had missed several quality chances earlier in the second half and would not go without in the waning moments of the match. Clipper Raul Florez stopped a shot on the goal line after keeper Jesse Nulty had been drawn out from the goal in the final two minutes. The clock stopped for a free kick with 2.9 seconds showing on the clock and Richland standout Jaime Lovegrove sent the ball over the crossbar from 40 yards out as time expired.

Held without a shot for more than 70 minutes Friday, Suffolk County Community College’s top-seeded Clippers dodged each attack by Richland College until they could punch in a goal and earn a spot in the NJCAA’s Division III championship match. The Broome Community College women’s cross country team finished sixth with 196 points Saturday in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Championships held at Suffolk County Community College in Selden.

Rafaele Rajo scored in the 86th minute of play at Wehrum Stadium and gave the Thunderducks a 1-0 win over Richland’s Thunderducks in the first of two semifinals. Homestanding Herkimer Community College and Triton College of Illinois took the field for the final match of the days and were still playing when The Times went to press.