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News
Men's Soccer Brings Home Dowling's First National Championship
Dowling College's men's soccer team made history on Saturday, November 18th, capturing the NCAA Division II National Championship, the first national title in any sport in the 51-year history of the college. The Golden Lions (22-0-2) had to withstand a furious rally from defending champion, No. 2-ranked Fort Lewis (21-2-1) down the stretch but held on to win 1-0.
"We want to be number one when it really matters, on November 19," senior co-captain Morten Jensen (Tanager, Norway) told a reporter just after the Golden Lions earned their first-ever #1 national ranking. Just weeks later his team's dreams were fulfilled.
"I'm proud," Head Coach John DiRico beamed at the post-game press conference. "I'm proud of our boys. This is great for the program and the institution."
The game was intense from the start with each team on the brink of a national championship. The Golden Lions made Skyhawks keeper Tom Donley work hard early on. Guy-Roland Kpene (Abidjan, Ivory Coast) blasted a shot at seven minutes in, but Donley was there with the save. Minutes later, the Skyhawks had a golden opportunity with a free kick, but keeper Billy Grady (Lake Grove, NY) batted it away. The Golden Lions kept up the pressure with several shots on goal coming from Jensen, Lamine Traore (Mali, Africa) and Kpene, but to no avail. With 7:01 showing on the clock, Kpene flicked a header to Jensen at the top of the box. Jensen chipped it just over Donley to find the back of the net and give the Golden Lions the 1-0 edge.
The Skyhawks came out firing shots in the second half, but the Golden Lions' defense withstood the barrage. Both Steven Schneider (Westbury, NY) and Thomas Vaaland (Stavanger, Norway) made huge saves to help Grady on rebound shots.
Named to the All-Tournament Team from Dowling are:
Guy – Roland Kpene – Most Outstanding Offensive Player
Morten Jensen
Carl Rydin
Thomas Vaaland – Most Outstanding Defensive Player
Billy Grady
About Dowling College
Dowling College is an independent, coeducational college that serves more than 6,500 students at
its historic Rudolph Campus on the banks of the Connetquot River in Oakdale, NY, and the 105-acre
Brookhaven Campus in eastern Long Island and a business center located near the Nassau-Suffolk
border in Melville. Dowling offers Bachelor′s, Master′s, and Doctoral degrees in several
disciplines through its four schools: Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business, and Education.
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