Bobcats Season Ends in Heartbreak, Despite Defeating UMFK 1-0 in Day 2 of Pool Play
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| 11/20/2023 9:30 AM | Nolan Cass, Sports Information Coordinator
Bobcats Season Ends in Heartbreak, Despite Defeating UMFK 1-0 in Day 2 of Pool Play
Pittsburgh, PA –
How it Happened:
Thursday’s game between #2 Bryant & Stratton Syracuse and Atlantis University was a match of highs and lows. The Bobcats had their opportunities to convert on the attack, but just could not seem to find the net. The game was tied 0-0 against Atlantis entering the half. Early in the second-half, Shawn Altidor broke the tie to give us a one nil lead and the Bobcats were 30 minutes away from winning the opening round of pool play. Late in the half, Atlantis earned a penalty kick opportunity on a foul that occurred just inside the box and were able to score the equalizer to tie the game at one all. The game was deadlocked all the way down to the 11th minute when an inadvertent kick left an Atlantis player unconscious for over 30 minutes. The training staff that was on the field went above and beyond and was able to get him to the hospital to be looked after. The Atlantis team did not show any quit and ultimately, they wanted it more. The game went to overtime where it was still scoreless after two 10 minute periods, and we went to PK's. Unobatsha led off for the Bobcats, but the keeper for the Atlanteans denied his attempt. The Atlanteans would go on to make three of the five initial PK's, and the Bobcats could only convert one. This was a very emotional game for both sides and Bryant & Stratton Syracuse had to have a short memory because they needed to prepare for UMFK, the defending champions of last year's final in the continuation of pool play the next day.
After a tough loss, what helped the team was attending the banquet where we were able to honor our great student athletes as well as find a way to hit the reset button on what transpired earlier in the day.
Shawn Altidor, USCAA D1 reigning National Player of the Year received All-American honors, as did our goalkeeper Antonio Costa whose extraordinary season earned him All-American honors as well. Both Renato Filho and our captain defender Jhonny Zamor also earned All-American honors & National All-Academic Team for their great work all year round on the pitch, as well as the classroom. Being able to come together and celebrate our success helped change the mindset going into our matchup against you UMFK.
On Friday morning, we had a rematch of last year's national championship. Both teams had their chances in the first half but ultimately at the break we were deadlocked. As the second half went on, the Bobcats were determined to end the game in regulation after playing nearly 110 minutes against Atlantis the day previously. In the 89th minute, Shawn Altidor buried a goal to give the Bobcats a 1-0 lead and put them on the doorstep of a possible championship final berth.
The criteria needed to make the final was not an easy one, but it was an outside possibility. No matter the result, it was an honor to cover this team all year and I am proud of every single one of them.
Saturday morning, the Atlantis team got on the board in the 12th minute of the game and added an insurance goal in the 42nd minute. They would hold on 2-0 to defeat UMFK, sending them into the championship final.
The Bobcats finished the season 6-3-3 on the year, and are determined to get back to the drawing board, and make another run at the postseason.