Match Recap:

The Eagles Men's Soccer team took the field Saturday night for their final outing of the 2025 season: the National Championship match against a familiar foe, Toccoa Falls College.

This match marked the third meeting between these two programs this year. The Eagles claimed the regular season win 4-2, and Toccoa narrowly edged out the Eagles in the South Region semifinal on penalty kicks. With both teams carrying history and momentum, the National Championship stage was set for a high-stakes rubber match. 

Toccoa emerged as a dark horse in the NCCAA this season, compiling an impressive 9-4-3 record with several standout results. The Screaming Eagles earned a 4-4 draw and a 2-0 win over the top-ranked Alice Lloyd College, and also secured a 2-1 victory over NCCAA Division I program Ohio Christian. Their résumé, combined with their strong regional tournament showing, positioned them as a genuine contender for the 2025 National Championship banner.

While the Eagles entered the tournament without the national spotlight, they proved in pool play that they belonged among the best. A win and draw over the number 6 and number 7 seeds placed them atop their group, and they punctuated pool play with a dominant 8-2 victory over second-seeded Alice Lloyd to secure their spot in the title match.

The championship match started with adversity, as captain center back Boaz DaSilva went down with a lower leg injury less than a minute into the game. Forced to adapt quickly, the Eagles brought on Chris Martinez and pressed forward. Both teams traded early chances, and the Eagles created multiple chances that grazed the woodwork, slowly building momentum as the half wore on.

In the 40th minute, Justin Loveland slipped a through ball into the box and squared it across to Angel Pietri-Garcia, whose shot was denied by a brilliant save. On the ensuing corner, the Eagles found their breakthrough. A deep service nearly sailed out of bounds, but Odanci Ndayisaba pulled off an athletic mid-air control to keep the play alive. Substitute Chris Martinez was perfectly positioned under the falling ball, delivering a well-timed overhead kick that soared into the net and sent the Eagles into halftime with a 1-0 lead.

After the break, the Eagles came out with intensity. Reid Rhodes forced a pair of quality saves on consecutive breakaways, leading to another corner opportunity. Off the clearance, a long pass found the feet of Ndayisaba 12 yards out, and he calmly slotted the ball past his defender and the keeper to double the lead early in the second half.

Toccoa pushed hard in response, but the Eagles controlled the rhythm and continued generating high-quality chances. In the 71st minute, Loveland muscled past his defender on the end line and drove a low shot past the goalkeeper to give the Eagles a commanding 3-0 advantage.

Over the final 20 minutes, the Eagles outshot Toccoa 11-5 and continued to push for more, yet the scoreline held firm. At full time, the Eagles celebrated a 3-0 shutout victory and were crowned the 2025 NCCAA Division II National Champions.

After the match, several Eagles earned additional honors. The All-Tournament Team featured Jackson Clarke, Samir Vieira Siqueira, and Boaz DaSilva. Samir Vieira Siqueira was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Performer after scoring in each pool play match and delivering standout performances across the entire tournament.

What's Next:

The Eagles will return to campus tomorrow evening, and Eagle Nation is invited to welcome home the National Champions. Details about the celebration will be announced tomorrow, so be sure to follow the Eagles' social media channels for updates. Let's give the champions the homecoming they deserve!