Pioneers Earn Region Tournament Runner-up Trophy

By Justin Smith,
Reporter Campus Current

November 2, 2014

The Anne Arundel Community College men's soccer team had their season come to an end after losing 2-0 against the Montgomery College in the final of the men's regional tournament at Seigert Field on Sunday.

The Pioneers came into this game in amazing form. They won 11 out of the last 12 games before today and were on a six game shutout streak. But they weren't the only team in good form.

The Montgomery College Raptors came into this tournament as the top seed and with a streak of 14 straight wins.

In the first half AACC was playing against the wind and couldn't get out of their own half. This hurt the Pioneers as Raptor midfielder Raphael Pacano put the Raptors ahead 24 minutes into the game. After the game, he talked about that goal.

"Thank god man," said Pacano. "I was really happy. I've never scored in a final. This was the first time I've scored in a final."

At halftime the score was 1-0 Raptors. It was a very windy day and that had a huge effect on the game.

"The wind was a huge factor obviously in the first half," said AACC forward Brent Orbell. "We couldn't get a ball across midfield in the air."

AACC had their chances to level the score in the second half while they had the wind. Seventeen minutes into the half Orbell got around the Montgomery keeper and would have tied the game if not for an awesome effort from defender Brandon McKoy to keep the ball out. This was the best chance AACC had all game.

Pacano had a huge impact in the second half as well. Thirty six minutes into the half he got behind the AACC defense and was taken down by AACC goalie Noah Heller. The ref blew the whistle and Heller was shown a red card.

"I saw the ball in front of me and I knew he was coming out," said Pacano. "I knew I had to take a touch and I absorbed the contact and I knew he'd get the red. Had to play smart there. Get the man down and change the whole game."

Two minutes after the sending off Jonathon Barron headed the ball in and doubled the lead for the Raptors. That would be the last goal of the game.

Even though their season came to an end there are positives looking forward for AACC. The team had a lot of character, grit and showed heart according to head coach Nick Cosentino. They also tied the school record for most shutouts in a season.