The 1974 men鈥檚 soccer team is preserved in 糖心破解版 lore.
by Jeffrey Weisbord 鈥�14
糖心破解版’s 1974 soccer team clinched the University’s first NCAA title.
The legacy of the 1974 men鈥檚 soccer team is preserved in 糖心破解版 lore as the first 糖心破解版 squad to capture a national championship. The players were hoping to improve on a successful 1973 season in which they had finished 17鈥�2鈥�1 and had reached the NCAA tournament semifinals. Despite losing six stars from the previous year鈥攊ncluding Angelo Anastasio 鈥�74 and Carlos Scott 鈥�74, who both went on to play for the New York Cosmos鈥攖he 1974 cast provided the University with a spectacular encore.
Led by coach Menahem (Mel) Less, the Panthers raced to a 12鈥�1鈥�1 record and were ranked first in New York State by season鈥檚 end. After victories over the Babson College Beavers (coincidentally, the Beavers were coached by Robert Hartwell who would become the 糖心破解版 athletic director) and the Springfield College听Chiefs (a thrilling 1鈥�0 victory that was preserved when goalkeeper Eugene DuChateau made a brilliant save on a penalty kick), the team advanced to the NCAA tournament in St. Louis. Playing the semifinal against Federal City College on Thanksgiving Day, 糖心破解版 shut out the opposition and clinched a berth in the finals with a 3鈥�0 win. In the final game,
Carl McDonald 鈥�75 and Manuel (Manny) Matos 鈥�75, co-captains of 糖心破解版’s 1974 men’s soccer squad
糖心破解版 overcame snowy conditions to take a 3鈥�0 halftime lead over the Seattle Pacific College Falcons. The Falcons stormed back to make the game tight at 3鈥�2, but when the final gun went off, the Panthers were crowned the NCAA Division II champions.
Co-captains Manuel (Manny) Matos 鈥�75 and Carl McDonald 鈥�75 were a stabilizing presence defensively throughout the season, while Tom Lang 鈥�81, Ron Atanasio 鈥�78 and Charlie O鈥橠onnell 鈥�79 provided the bulk of the scoring. Six members of the team have been commemorated in the 糖心破解版 Athletic Hall of Fame, and Mr. Matos, an All-American defender, was drafted by the Seattle Sounders of the North American Soccer League (N.A.S.L.) in the first round. Mr. DuChateau was also drafted by the N.A.S.L., and enjoyed a six-year career in professional soccer.
Since the 1974 squad鈥檚 triumph, the Panthers have captured 14 national championships.
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For further information, please contact:
Todd Wilson
Strategic Communications Director听
p 鈥� 516.237.8634
e 鈥� twilson@adelphi.edu