Six Knights Earn All-Region XXI Soccer Honors!

11.08.21

Warwick, R.I. – November 9, 2021: The CCRI Knights Men’s Soccer Team enjoyed their finest season under Head Coach Gabe Toro.  The Knights had a 10-5 record which represents the highest win total under Coach Toro. In addition, they led the team to his first two playoff victories as well. The Knights did their best to try and deliver him his first Region XXI title but were five minutes short of accomplishing that goal. However, it was still a very successful season for CCRI. In addition, to that success they just received news that six Knights earned All-Region XXI honors. Earning first team honors were Matt Gibeau (Warwick, RI), Aaron Ramos (Cranston, RI) and co-captain Ednilson Tavares (Pawtucket, RI). Earning Second Team honors was co-captain Wilson Penafiel (Providence, RI) and Cristian Justiniano (Providence, RI). Earning Third Team honors was Daniel Tinoco (Providence, RI).

Co-captain Ednilson Tavares earned First Team All-Region XXI honors in his sophomore campaign.   Tavares was the Knights No.1 Goalkeeper.  He is a leader on and off the pitch for the Knights.  Tavares was ranked No. 11 in NJCAA Division III Soccer with 90 saves this season.  He is also No. 14 in NJCAA Division III soccer with an impressive .849 save percentage. Ednilson is also ranked No. 34 the NJCAA in Goals against Average with an impressive 1.77 mark. Tavares manned the net for six of the Knights 10 victories and authored two clean sheets (shutouts).    

Matt Gibeau earned First Team All-Region XXI honors in his freshman campaign. Gibeau was the best man-marker on the Knights squad according to Head Coach Gabe Toro.  Whomever the most dangerous scoring target was on the opposing team Gibeau go the assignment and more times than not locked that player up. Matt is a tenacious defender who never gives up or seems to get tired and Coach Toro took full advantage.  In addition, Gibeau would additionally serve a wing back and transition to the offensive end where he provided some punch with a goal and two assists.   

Aaron Ramos also earns First Team All-Region XXI honors as a freshman. Ramos was tied for the Knights lead with 15 total points which included six goals and three assists. Ramos was tied for the team lead with his six goals on the season.  Aaron did one thing really well that Coach Toro wanted, take shots, as he led the Knights with 33 shots on the season.  Ramos was a key part to the Knights offensive charge and put forth many memorable efforts but his two finest games were versus Southern Maine early in the season where he scored two goals and added an assist. And in the Region XXI Tournament Semifinal game Ramos had a goal and assisted on the game-winning goal when he took a corner kick that Ethan McDermott (Cumberland, RI) headed into the back of the net to send the Knights to the Region XXI Championship game.   

Co-captain Wilson Penafiel earned Second Team All-Region XXI honors as a freshman. Penafiel was a key member of the Knights midfield corps that would link the ball from the backs up to the forwards for scoring opportunities. Penafiel ranked No. 3 on the Knights with 14 total points with five goals and four assists. Wilson was one of the team leaders for the Knights and always played well when the Knights needed him most. His best games came in the Region XXI Tournament when he had a goal and an assist to help the Knights defeat Northern Essex CC.

Cristian Justiniano also earned Second Team All-Region XXI honors as a freshman.  Justiniano was another stalwart on the Knights defensive corps.  Alongside Gibeau, Cristian was one of the key reasons why CCRI was able to author five shutouts on the season. He is another player that if you play offensively against him you are going to have a long day.  Much like Gibeau, Justiniano wasn’t afraid to venture out of the back and transition to the wing to bring the ball forward.  Such an effort gave him an assist versus Central Maine early in the season hos lone point as a defender.  

Daniel Tinoco earned Third Team All-Region XXI honors as a freshman.  Tinoco came out of the gates quickly for the Knights this season. Tinoco scored a goal in each of the first four games in which he played and ion two of them also added an assist. Tinoco was hampered by nagging knocks that kept him off the pitch however, when he was on the pitch he was a force to be reckoned with.  Daniel had 12 total points on the season with five goals and two assists.

Head Coach Gabe Toro is very happy for his Knights who earned All-Region XXI accolades. He is even more happy that five of the six who were named All-Region still have another year of eligibility left so they can finish the job they started and get Coach Toro that elusive Region XXI title he and the team so desire.

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The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest comprehensive community college, enrolls nearly 10,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes. Its athletic program boasts 12 varsity programs and an academic support program for all student-athletes.