TKC Lions Are Going to USCAA Nationals
|| Credit to Jon Rothermel.
This is part of our coverage of the 2018 soccer teams. Read more about their journey here.
Nationals is calling out to The King’s College Lions men’s soccer team.
After losing 1-2 to SUNY ESF at the playoff tournament for the second time, the team had to wait patiently for three days after Saturday’s loss to find out whether or not their year of hard work was going to pay off for the country to see.
Then on Tuesday night, the team found out that their 10 wins and three losses was enough to pull through to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Nationals Championship.
“Our form and victories in season meant we were ranked fourth in our division across the nation. Though we were disappointed not to win our conference championship our ranking meant that we were still eligible to go,” coach Tom Harman said in an email to the Empire State Tribune.
Junior midfielder Dan Fuenzalida said he is prepared to practice, eat, sleep, school, and repeat.
“I am losing my mind. I can't think straight. God is good,” Fuenzalida described the moment he found out they made it.
This season, the team won all of the top awards in the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Division.
Sophomore midfielder Edvin Loefgren was awarded Player of the Year. Freshman Spencer Smith was awarded Rookie of the Year.
“The duo formed the most potent scoring threat in the league combining for 30 goals and 14 assists as the No. 1 and 2 goal scorers in the league,” the HVIAC press release stated.
Tom Harman, Todd Philips, and Matt Anderson were awarded Coaching Staff of the Year Honors.
Since the athletes found out they made Nationals, it’s back to practice and preparations for competing against the top Division II soccer teams in the nation.
“It’s a great feeling to know that our season continues and we get to continue to challenge ourselves against the best,” Harman added.
The championship tournament will be hosted in Virginia Beach, Va. from Nov. 9 to 12.