Cabrini Athleticsteam captured its first conference title in nine years when they defeated Neumann College this past Saturday, Nov. 8.
The Cavaliers defeated the Knights 2-0 which brings them to an overall record of 15-3-2.
The Cavs had earned the right to a home championship game by receiving the number one seed for the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) playoffs. Neumann had received the No. 3 seed.
Cabrini came out on fire in the first half and scored their first goal less than a minute into the game.
Senior forward Mike McDevitt took a long throw-in across Neumann’s 18-yard box and found junior midfielder Evan Hanauer.
Hanauer managed to get his head on the ball and directed it to junior forward Justin McCall who drove the ball into the back of the net.
This brings McCall’s goal total for the season to 11.
The two teams battled another 30 minutes until the Cavs struck again.
This time, sophomore back Troy Allen took a direct kick and crossed the ball to McDevitt who headed the ball into goal for his twelfth of the season.
In the second half, Neumann fought to try to get back in the game.
Junior goalie Bryan Johnson earned the game’s most valuable player by keeping the shutout for the Cavs and holding Neumann scoreless for the rest of the game.
Although Cabrini did win 2-0, it was a battle the entire 90 minutes.
A total of five yellow cards were given out to players on both teams and numerous fouls were called.
“I was relieved when it was over because we knew we were supposed to win,” Jason Moran, junior communication major, said. “We played really hard and all of our restarts were good.”
“It felt great to win,” Colin Hinkelmon, senior elementary education major, said. “It was a great way to start the conclusion of my senior year.”
Because the Cavaliers won the conference title, they were given an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
They will travel to Geneva, N.Y. where they will play Hobart College, ranked fourth nationally, on their home turf, Saturday, Nov. 15. Game time is set for 11 a.m.
The other pair in the bracket is Misericordia College and Cabrini athletic department Coach Glen Jaskalwitz and the men’s soccer team gather around the plaque declaring them conference champions. The Cavaliers were victorious in the Colonial States Athletic Conference championship against Neumann College on Saturday, Nov. 8 by a score of 2-0. The win earned them a birth in the National College Athlete Association tournament.
Cortland State, who will play at 1:30 p.m.
The winners will play each other in the second round on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Cavs are anxious and eager to have the chance to continue their season and fight for a national title.
“We are huge underdogs. They are fourth in the nation and are undefeated. We know we have a chance to beat them, we have nothing to lose,” Moran said.
“We are expecting to do well and to win,” Hinkelmon said. “We aren’t traveling five hours to come home in a day; we are traveling five hours to come home with two wins.”
