Mens Soccer Captures Their First NE-10 Championship in Program History

Gina Savino, Sports Editor

This past Saturday, November 16th, Assumption Men’s Soccer made program history. On the chilly day, the Hounds won their first NE-10 championship in front of their classmates, fans, and family right here on their home field. It has been a Cinderella season, as the Greyhounds were not expected or predicted to place very high. But the Hounds came out and gave their all, and in the end, the trophy came home with Assumption.

Junior Kevin Hernandez put his team up 1-0 at the 24:08 mark. He got his head on a ball placed out front by teammate Ruben Faria, catching the Saint Rose goalkeeper out of position for his team’s first goal of the game.

Sophomore Tyler Moreau then added a second goal at the 78:41 mark. Junior Mauro Cortez possessed the ball in the corner and sent it out front to Moreau. Moreau then took it and swung, putting the ball into the bottom left corner of the net for the 2-0 lead.

Saint Rose was able to get a goal back at the 86:39 mark, but in the end, it wasn’t enough. One of the Golden Knights challenged Assumption goalie Sebastian Jimenez  for a loose ball and ultimately won. Both players went to play it, but the player from Saint Rose was the first to get to it, putting the ball up and over Jimenez, slowly bouncing into the back of the net.

Regardless of the goal from the Golden Knights, the Hounds were able to hold them for the rest of the game, and kept the lead the whole game, right up until the final horn.

Some stats from the game included that Saint Rose held a 12-11 shot advantage, while both teams had three corner kicks. Hernandez’s goal gives him three in his last two games, totaling three goals throughout the playoffs. Moreau’s goal was his first of the season, playing in 18 contests. He has two goals in his collegiate career. Both are game-winners. Jimenez made seven saves to earn the victory, while the Saint Rose goalie made four saves but earned the loss.

The Hounds are one of the lowest seeds to ever win the NE10 Championship, tying a record set by Hampshire College (now known as Southern N.H.) in 2000. They defeated No. 5 Le Moyne in the opening round and then No. 8 American Int’l to get there.

So far, the men’s soccer team has a .63 win percentage, with a 12-7 overall record. The team has been 7-5 in the NE10 conference, but pulled forwards to be your 2019 NE10 men’s soccer champions.

Because of this win, the team is guaranteed a bid in the NCAA tournament, which will be announced on Monday, November 18th. We wish the team luck as they continue on representing the pride we have here as Hounds.

Gina Savino, a junior, studies English and Education. She is the Sports Editor for Le Provocateur.