Men’s Soccer Captures Back-to-Back USCAA National Championships

After waiting nearly two full years to defend their 2019 national title, it was fitting that the 2021 title went to the bitter end for Bryant & Stratton College.

A hard-fought battle between the Bobcats and University of Maine-Fort Kent, two top ranked teams in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA), solved nothing through 90 minutes of regulation and a full overtime period. Even after earning a penalty in the second overtime, the Bobcats couldn’t breakthrough as UMFK goalkeeper John Amoah stood tall.

The game would go to penalty kicks after the second overtime also ended scoreless, adding yet another dramatic chapter to this rivalry.

Both sides would miss their initial PK before Salvatore Delorio opened the scoring for the Bobcats. Tournament MVP Babucarr Ceesay would turn away UMFK’s second attempt before Felipe Pampolim put the Bobcats ahead 2-0. The Bengals would convert their third penalty kick before both sides would be stopped on attempt four.

With only one shooter left for each side and the Bobcats holding a 2-1 lead, Luca Natale could score the deceive goal in the shootout and lock up BSC’s second-straight title. After a short run up, he slotted home with a terrific placement into the left side of the net, giving the Bobcats their second-straight USCAA title.

Just two days after head coach Nick Dimitrievski was named USCAA Coach of the Year, four Bobcats earned All-Tournament Team honors. In addition to Ceesay’s MVP performance, Denilson Reyes, Jon Stublla and Luca Natale were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Ceesay made 10 saves over the Bobcats’ three games, including three in the National Championship match with only one goal allowed in the deciding penalty shootout. Natale scored in each match of the tournament, slotting home against Paul Quinn College and Mississippi University for Women in pool play, then scoring in the penalty shootout. Reyes scored a pair of goals against MUW while Stublla was dynamic in midfield for Bryant & Stratton.

This was the sixth-straight appearance in the USCAA National Championship for the Bobcats, with their back-to-back titles both coming against UMFK. The 2021 championship is the third in program history for the Bobcats, with the prior titles coming in 2019 and 2001.

The Bobcats finish the season with an 11-0-1 record and had four players earn All-American honors.

2021 USCAA All Americans

Babucarr Ceesay – First-Team All American

Yago Pimenta – First-Team All American

Luca Natale – First-Team All American

Felipe Pampolim – Second-Team All American