Maine-Fort Kent wins 2022 USCAA Men's Division I Championship

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Maine-Fort Kent secured the Division I Men's Soccer National Title in a rematch of last year's championship, winning on pentalty kicks over Bryant & Stratton Syracuse.  

In a defensive battle, the first half saw only 7 combined shots, with 5 coming off the toe of Bengals.  The defense of Felipe Pampolim, Sekou Soumah, Johnny Zamor and Renato Filho kept the Bobcats of Bryant & Stratton Syracuse in the contest.  

In the second half, UMFK continued to test keeper, Giovanni Gallina who faced 10 total shots making 6 saves to keep his squad in the game through regulation.  As the match headed into the overtime period, both Gallina (Bryant & Stratton Syracuse) and John Amoah (UMFK) had kept their respective teams in contention.  

In the first overtime, just over a minute into the period, UMFK's Ronaldo Watson came out firing, but Gallina continued to be a force in goal.  Two minutes later it was Syracuse's Jonathan Zamora who tried to open the scoring, but the All-American keeper for the Bengals, John Amoah, keep the game scoreless.  In the second overtime, the Bengals continued to test Gallina with shots from Damian Jones and Watson, both putting balls off the post.  

As the game moved into the shootout, tensions high, Maine-Fort Kent shot first, missing on the attempt from Damian Jones.  Syracuse's Pampolim then missed on his attempt, keeping the contest even.  It was Kevon Maitland who netted the first goal for UMFK, beginning the shift in mometum.  After a miss from Bryant & Stratton's Syracuse, the Bengals', Aaron Boateng netted the second goal in the shootout.  But Syracuse kept it interesting as Decklan Macalle netted the first goal for the Bobcats.  With the penalty kick score at 2-1, Maine-Fort Kents', Michael German gave the Bengals a 3-1 lead and after the eventual miss from Syracuse, secured his team the National Championship.  

ALL-TOURNAMENT

Salem University - Andrea Fincato

Bryant & Stratton-Syracuse – Renato Filho, Felipe Pampolim, Giovanni Gallina, Aidan O'Keefe

Maine-Fort Kent – Markell Holness, Aaron Boateng, Jaheim McIntosh, Ajay Chin, Ronaldo Watson

TOURNAMENT MVP

Maine-Fort Kent – John Amoah