Bobcats Fall to Florida National in Heartbreaking National Championship

Bobcats Fall to Florida National in Heartbreaking National Championship
November 11, 2018

USCAA News Release

In yet another physical, defensive contest between Bryant & Stratton College Syracuse and Florida National University, the Conquistadors have emerged as National Champions.  This marks back to back titles for Florida National and the fourth consecutive runner-up trophy for the Bobcats of Bryant & Stratton. 

The Bobcats had a tougher route to the Championship than in year’s past.  Bryant & Stratton lost their first contest against Cleary University, their first pool play loss in three USCAA tournaments.  They returned with a vengeance, knocking off the three seed – University of Maine Fort Kent 5-1.  Maine Fort Kent would defeat Cleary 4-3 the next day to give Bryant & Stratton a trip to the finals on the first tie-breaker of differential.  Florida National took a different route, sailing through pool play by a combined 11 goals against Washington Adventist University and Paul Quinn College. 

In the Championship game, Florida National University controlled much of the early possession.  At 0-0 it appeared that the contest might go into the half tied, before USCAA National Championship MVP Pedro Veiga put the ball in the back of the net off a cross from Sebastian Aldunte.  The Conquistadors had several chances in the game, putting six of their 12 shots on goal.  This would be the only goal of the game, however, as the Conquistadors claimed their second title in the 2018 Fall Championship Week, their volleyball team having won their first title yesterday.

  • All-Tournament Team
    • Shawn Genus | So. Forward | University of Maine Fort Kent
    • Levyn Benavidez | Fr. Forward | Paul Quinn College
    • Uros Momic | Sr. Forward | Bryant & Stratton College Syracuse
    • Rodrigo Costa | Sr. Forward | Florida National University
    • Hector Aguirre | Sr. Midfielder | Cleary University
    • Franco Tedesco | Fr. Midfielder | Florida National University
    • Connor McGoldrick | Jr. Defender | Bryant & Stratton College
    • Fransisco Bongiovanni | So. Defender | Florida National University
    • Milan Jakovljevic | Jr. Defender | Bryant & Stratton College
    • Matheus Carvalho | Jr. Defender | Florida National University
    • Marc Hodges | Sr. Goalkeeper | Cleary University 
  • MVP: Pedro Veiga | Jr. Forward | Florida National University