Pittsburgh, PA – The Central Maine Community College men's soccer team are national champions for the first time in program history after defeating #2 Central Penn 7-0 in the USCAA Division II title game Sunday afternoon at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh. The Mustangs scored six times in the first half with Ivan Domingues, Mitch Cameron and Sam Boynton all grabbing two goals each, and Justin Violette added the icing on top in the 87th minute to send #1 CMCC into seventh heaven.
"It hasn't sunk in yet," head coach Dalton Wing said. "It's been a long season. These guys earned the right to call themselves national champions. Hopefully, it's a memory they'll have forever."
It was Central Maine's first time advancing to the championship game in their fourth straight trip to the national tournament. The first three ended in defeat, falling one win short of a national title game appearance in both of the last two editions. However, if you ask team captain Alfie Bashford, that experience helped this year's squad put together the three straight wins it needed to lift the trophy.
"The experience got us through that first game against Johnson & Wales," said Bashford. "We knew how to get through those tough stretches in the middle of games. We knew we had to get off to a better start if we wanted to win games, and that's what we've done these last two days. And we didn't allow any goals on the other end either."
CMCC got off to the perfect start to the match with leading scorer and USCAA Co-Player of the Year Ivan Domingues finding the back of the net just 2:07 in. Tiro Nong, the Central Maine Community College student president who started the match in place of an injured Igor Domingues, found space on the left wing before dropping a pass back to Matty Waters. The defender floated a cross into the area and Ivan rose to meet it, sending his header into the corner.
Mitch Cameron then doubled the lead less than a minute later. David Nzuzi got to the end line from the right wing only to see his low cross cleared out to the top of the box. Mikel Soto struck it on the volley with his left foot, and the ball sailed straight towards Cameron at the top of the six-yard box. A defender who had been tracking Nzuzi kept him onside, and the first-year midfielder redirected the ball with a backheel past goalkeeper Jose Hurtado.
"They settled into the game right away," coach Wing said. "They came out fast, they came out hard, and they finished the chances they created. That's what we talked about in the pre-game and they executed."
A stunned Central Penn team struggled to gain a foothold in the match, being forced deeper into their own half and finding it difficult to play out from the back. The Mustangs outshot the Knights five to one in the first 20 minutes.
A corner kick led to Central Maine's third goal. Nong whipped in a left-footed delivery that defender Dylan Luong attempted to clear, only for his header to find Cameron at the top of the box. The Northwich, England native brought it down on his thigh before smacking a volley that flew over Hurtado and dipped under the crossbar to make it 3-0. It was the seventh goal of the year for Cameron and his second multi-goal game having also scored twice in the Yankee Small College Conference championship match.
Cameron turned provider for CMCC's fourth tally. He picked off a pass out of the back form a short goal kick, sending it forward to Domingues. Ivan put his foot through it, drilling an unstoppable shot from 20 yards out that flew past a diving Hurtado in the 27th minute. It was the 26th goal of the season for the junior from Lewiston, ME and the 64th of his stellar Central Maine career. Ivan ends his campaign with five multi-goal performances in his final six matches, while the assist for Cameron was his 13th goal contribution in the last 12 games.
Coach Wing made several substitutions as the half rolled along, but it was the introduction of Sam Boynton off the bench that triggered the next two goals from the Mustangs. The second-year forward from China, ME pounced on a corner kick in the 38th minute. Once again, Nong was the provider sending the cross into the box. Waters got his head to it, looping the ball towards the line, and Boynton hammered it into the net.
The Erskine Academy product then made it 6-0 just two minutes later. Again, a short goal kick routine from Central Penn caused disaster. The Knights sent an errant pass towards the middle that Boynton raced onto. The forward held his nerve before slipping his shot past the goalkeeper who had come out to cut down the angle. It was the third goal of the season for Boynton, tripling his goal production for the year just five minutes after subbing on.
CMCC ended the half outshooting Central Penn 12-2 with neither goalkeeper making a save in the first 45 minutes. The Knights brought on Alan Felipe to man the posts in the second half.
Having already established a big lead, the Mustangs looked to play more possession after the halftime break, but that doesn't mean there weren't scoring chances. Cameron was denied a hat trick goal in the 50th minute when Felipe made a diving stop. The Knights also had two chances from the top of the box in the next couple minutes, with Cody Cleaveland saving them both.
Coach Wing worked every member of his squad into the game during the second half, including back-up goalkeeper and captain Arnaud Nyagasaza who replaced Cleaveland for the final 12:20. Igor Domingues also got a cameo even with his limited mobility, replacing brother Igor up top.
Justin Violette capped off a perfect day for the Mustangs with a late goal to make it 7-0. Cameron saw yet another chance at the hat trick denied by a diving save. Boynton got to the rebound but his effort from six yards out was blocked. The ball bounced back to Violette who swept it into the corner in the 87th minute. It was the fourth goal of the year for the junior out of Lisbon High School and his second of the tournament.
When the final seconds ticked down, CMCC was officially the USCAA 2024 Division II National Champions. The players on the bench celebrated by dousing coach Wing with the water cooler before sprinting onto the field to mob Nyagasaza.
"All the work from this season, the past three years, it was all worth it. We're champions," said Ivan Domingues after the match. He was able to share the moment with his brothers, teammate Igor and now assistant coach Isidoro. "It's special. Being able to share it with Igor and Isi… and not just them but everybody on the team. We're like one big family."
Central Maine ends the tournament without allowing a goal, having shut out both two-time defending champion Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte and Penn State University-Lehigh Valley in group play, before keeping a clean sheet against Central Penn College in the final. The team's seven tallies are the most goals ever scored in a USCAA championship soccer match across all divisions.
"I'm not satisfied with this personally," said Bashford. "Hopefully this sets a new standard for this CM program. We've built this up and I want this program to flourish and be back here to win even more championships in the years to come."
"This was a special team from the get-go," remarked Wing. "I think we saw that in our very first game against Maine Maritime Academy when we went down 2-0 and rallied back to score four goals and get the win. A lot of good wins against solid teams. It just showed how talented these guys are. They're a special group."
Ivan, Bashford, Cameron, Boynton, and Raimundo Lubota were all named to the USCAA All-Tournament team after the match, with co-Player of the Year Jeremiah Gomez also picking up tournament MVP honors.
CMCC ends the 2024 season with a 17-1-2 record. The Mustangs went a perfect 9-0 in conference play and were unbeaten against four NCAA DIII opponents. The 17 wins are the most in program history. The Mustangs finish the year as the number one ranked team nationally, YSCC regular season and tournament champions, and USCAA national champions for the first time.
![CMCC Celebrates Men’s Soccer National Championship](/sports/msoc/2024-25/releases/469010157_4137386686545126_613110925173683798_n.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
December 2, 2024
CMCC Celebrates Men’s Soccer National Championship
![Men’s Soccer Wins First National Championship, 7-0](/sports/msoc/2024-25/releases/CMCC_Men-s_Soccer_2024_USCAA_National_Champions.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
November 17, 2024
Men’s Soccer Wins First National Championship, 7-0
![Men’s & Women’s Soccer Earn 6 All-American Awards](/general/2024-25/releases/USCAA_DII_Soccer_All-Americans.png?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
November 15, 2024
Men’s & Women’s Soccer Earn 6 All-American Awards
![Men’s Soccer Grinds Out Win Over JWU-Charlotte, 4-2 In PKs](/sports/msoc/2024-25/releases/1.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
November 14, 2024
Men’s Soccer Grinds Out Win Over JWU-Charlotte, 4-2 In PKs
![Mustangs Pick Up 14 YSCC Fall Sports Honors](/general/2024-25/releases/YSCC_Fall_Sports_Award_Winners.png?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
November 7, 2024
Mustangs Pick Up 14 YSCC Fall Sports Honors
![Mustangs Win Men’s Soccer YSCC Championship, 5-1 Over PSC](/sports/msoc/2024-25/releases/465688415_4115091548774640_5425108790716694938_n.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
November 3, 2024
Mustangs Win Men’s Soccer YSCC Championship, 5-1 Over PSC
![CMCC Hosts 2024 Men's Soccer YSCC Tournament](/sports/msoc/2024-25/releases/2024_Mens_Soccer_YSCC_Tournament_Bracket.png?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
November 2, 2024
CMCC Hosts 2024 Men's Soccer YSCC Tournament
![Mustangs Knock Out Seawolves in YSCC Semis](/sports/msoc/2024-25/releases/465402888_4114353592181769_2465727307560252998_n.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
November 2, 2024
Mustangs Knock Out Seawolves in YSCC Semis
November 1, 2024
Three Lions
![Men’s Soccer Ends YSCC Play Undefeated](/sports/msoc/2024-25/releases/Men-s_Soccer_2024_YSCC_Regular_Season_Champions.png?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
October 21, 2024
Men’s Soccer Ends YSCC Play Undefeated
![Mustangs Win Card-Filled Battle With SMCC](/sports/msoc/2024-25/releases/463462901_9025430430813993_4032797383284683381_n.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
October 17, 2024
Mustangs Win Card-Filled Battle With SMCC
![Men’s Soccer Sweeps Weekend Road Trip](/sports/msoc/2024-25/releases/463629308_9017155381641498_443367104229912612_n.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
October 12, 2024
Men’s Soccer Sweeps Weekend Road Trip
![Gomez, Domingues Bag a Brace, Beat ACPHS 4-0](/sports/msoc/2024-25/releases/462966463_9007253059298397_3501122533242441625_n.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
October 11, 2024
Gomez, Domingues Bag a Brace, Beat ACPHS 4-0
October 8, 2024
Men’s Soccer Celebrates 11 Grads, Blasts Past UMA 8-0
![Men’s Soccer Slays Knights 7-0](/sports/msoc/2024-25/releases/462257870_8943614018995635_4386701606192298834_n.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
October 5, 2024
Men’s Soccer Slays Knights 7-0
![7th Heaven For Men’s Soccer in Win vs Paul Smith’s](/sports/msoc/2024-25/releases/461095349_8812442532112785_4705773885113677383_n.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
September 22, 2024
7th Heaven For Men’s Soccer in Win vs Paul Smith’s
September 19, 2024
Ivan and Igor Domingues Each Score Twice in Win
![Men’s Soccer Drops Heartbreaker to Berkeley](/sports/msoc/2024-25/releases/459882349_4059214384362357_7380555873860174408_n.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
September 15, 2024
Men’s Soccer Drops Heartbreaker to Berkeley
![Men’s Soccer Puts Nine Past Hampshire](/sports/msoc/2024-25/releases/456490959_4038815989735530_700310797209840473_n.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
September 14, 2024
Men’s Soccer Puts Nine Past Hampshire
![Men’s Soccer Soars Past Hawks 5-1](/sports/msoc/2024-25/releases/459685221_4056431091307353_3539224830325236301_n.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
September 12, 2024
Men’s Soccer Soars Past Hawks 5-1
![Men’s Soccer Claws Out Win Over Bridgton Academy](/sports/msoc/2024-25/releases/459236757_8716207278402978_5295826180753655197_n.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
September 10, 2024
Men’s Soccer Claws Out Win Over Bridgton Academy
September 4, 2024
Domingues Brothers Combine For Four Goals In 5-3 Win Over Husson
![Nzuzi’s Goal Powers Mustangs Past Terriers](/sports/msoc/2024-25/releases/457524517_8641298655893841_8568752631965966877_n.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
August 30, 2024
Nzuzi’s Goal Powers Mustangs Past Terriers
![Men's Soccer Battles UNE to 2-2 Draw](/sports/msoc/2024-25/photos/uploads/0109f8eb-1d79-49fe-8515-17d94115ffa9.png?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
August 22, 2024
Men's Soccer Battles UNE to 2-2 Draw
![Men’s Soccer Rallies Back For 4-2 Win](/sports/msoc/2024-25/photos/uploads/456424455_4037236023226860_3754588672131864771_n.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
August 21, 2024
Men’s Soccer Rallies Back For 4-2 Win