Auburn, ME – A goal by Jasen DeJesus with 11 seconds remaining handed the CMCC men's soccer team its first loss of the season in dramatic fashion. Ivan Domingues penalty kick in the 89th minute had appeared to rescue a draw for the Mustangs before the late strike from Berkeley College's leading scorer.
"All-in-all, a loss like this early in the season is going to be good for us," said head coach Dalton Wing. "This was a good test of where we are. We're going to be ramping up our conference play. The goal is to win the regular season and YSCC championship. Then the ultimate goal is to compete for a national championship like these guys have."
The match-up pitted last year's USCAA Division II national tournament runners-up in Berkeley against a nationally ranked Mustangs team who finished a game away from the championship match last season. The Knights have since jumped up to the USCAA Division I level.
The visitors got off to the better start in the first half. CMCC Goalkeeper Cody Cleaveland made his most impressive save of the first half in the 10th minute, clawing a volley from Ian Pallardel over the crossbar. The Knights had more possession and created more chances in the first 45 minutes, but the match remained scoreless at halftime, with the Mustangs being outshot nine to five.
Berkeley did not waste time getting on the board in the second half. In the 49th minute, Fernando Morales played a great through pass for Steven Urbes to run onto. The forward from Elizabeth, NJ shrugged off a challenge from Matty Waters before placing the ball past Cleaveland while through on goal.
The match continued to be physical, with both teams going in the referee's book. Morales, DeJesus, Samuel Gomez, and Hector Castro were all shown yellow cards for Berkeley, while CMCC had Jeremiah Gomez and Alfie Bashford receive a caution. In total the Mustangs committed 18 fouls to 17 for the Knights.
Central Maine slowly began gaining momentum late in the second half, stringing passes together and spending more time in the attacking third. But just when it appeared it would be too late to find a way to even things up, Ivan Domingues came through with a moment of brilliance.
Mitch Cameron played a one-two with the junior forward, sliding a pass between two Berkeley defenders to allow Ivan into the penalty area. A fake shot got Miguel Andrade to attempt the block and slide in, and after making contact with Domingues' ankle referee George Ayoob pointed to the spot awarding a penalty kick in the 89th minute. Ivan coolly converted it to tie the game at 1-1 and seemingly continue the Mustangs unbeaten start to the campaign.
But in the final minute, disaster struck. A goal kick from Victor Batista bounced and skipped its way through the midfield, suddenly putting DeJesus through on goal. The Orlando, FL native avoided the onrushing Cleaveland, and from a tight angle on the left side of the box, slotted his shot into the back of the net to spark celebrations for the Knights with just 11 seconds left to play.
Waters long range effort at the horn was stopped, and Berkeley emerged with a miraculous albeit deserved victory, 2-1.
"As a keeper that's your worst nightmare," said Cleaveland, who finished with eight saves. "There was a moment after Ivan scored where it felt like, 'we're tied, we're good,' and that was the moment they counterattacked on. But as a team, this was great for us. Knowing we're not always going to be the best team out there, and we're going to have to work every single day if we want a shot at a championship."
The Mustangs next host Southern Maine Community College for a non-conference match-up on Thursday, October 19th at 4:00 pm.
