Virginia Beach, VA - CMCC Men's soccer recently traveled to Virginia beach to compete in the USCAA D2 National Finals.
Having won the YSCC tournament the Mustangs post season run would continue as they were paired with #2 seed UC Clermont (OH) and #3 seed Berkeley College (NJ). Being ranked as the #6 seed the Mustangs were underdogs for both games.
On Friday Nov 11th their first game of the tournament saw them take on UC Clermont (UCC). Clermont fielded the USCAA D2 player of the year, along with being guided by the USCAA D2 coach of the year. However, it was the Mustangs who started the game brightest. With 2:10 on the clock Raimundo Lubota stopped a UCC attack with a well-timed slide tackle, he then passed the ball to Sasha Bruno on the right wing. Bruno played a through ball for Ivan Domingues to run onto. Domingues finished low into the net past the outrushing UCC keeper to give the Mustangs the 1-0 lead. The Mustangs continued to possess the ball and it wasn't until midway through the half that the UCC began to establish some rhythm. The sides entered the half with CMCC 1 goal to the good.
The second half started with UCC upping the tempo and the Mustangs had to defend with resolve and determination. With the game edging towards conclusion UCC started to press forward opening themselves up to counter attacks.
In the 82nd minute CMCC would double their lead. Abdiftah Yussuf played a entry pass to the feet of Igor Domingues. Igor turned drawing a defender to him before slipping the ball to Romano Bassa on the left wing. Bassa took one touch, then his hard shot beat the UCC keeper at his near post. The Mustangs would see out the clock to claim the 2-0 win.
With the win the Mustangs moved to 11-1-2 for the season, winning their first game in program history at the USCAA nationals.
The CMCC players enjoyed at day off before facing #3 Berkeley college on Sunday Nov 13th. Berkeley also beat UCC, meaning the winner of this game would progres to the D2 men's soccer final.
Playing into a strong headwind the Mustangs struggled to establish consistent possession in the first half. With 9:05 on the clock CM gave up a free kick about 22 yards from the goal. A hard curling shot flew past the despairing dive of Arnaud Nyagasaza in the Mustangs goal, giving Berkeley the 1-0 lead. Berkeley continued to carry the play and the Mustangs had to defend and play counter attacking soccer. CM were able to get to halftime trailing 1-0.
In the second half with the wind behind their backs the Mustangs began to generate more offense. However, the equalizing goal came from defender Isidoro Domingues. Domingues took a free kick from just inside the Berkeley half. His free kick went directly in off the crossbar. With 16 mins left to play it was now CMCC who were in the ascendancy, but they could not convert any further chances. With 5 mins left in the game Berkeley played a forward ball that the CMCC defense did not deal with. The bouncing ball fell to the Berkeley forward who dribbled forward and shot to the right of the outrushing Nyagasaza. Berkeley would run out the clock to earn the win, and progress to the D2 men's finals were they would ultimately lose to JW University.
The loss would end the Mustangs season. Abdiftah Yussuf and Sasha Oleksandr Bruno were both recognized as All American Honorable Mentions. CMCC repeated as YSCC tournament champions and won the YSCC conference league. The Mustangs finished the season with an overall 11-2-2 record.
