First Men’s National Title
Notre Dame’s fight song “Victory March” rang out and the celebration began after the Fighting Irish captured their first men’s soccer national championship at PPL Park in Chester, Pa.
[show_disconnected][show_to accesslevel=’Subscriber’] Victory came 2-1 on two-unanswered goals after the Maryland Terrapins (17-4-5) had taken an early 1-0 lead.
“We’re all smiling big smiles,” said 68-year-old coach Bobby Clark, who won his first title in 27 years coaching at Dartmouth, Stanford and Notre Dame. His Irish finished their season 17-1-6.
“They are worthy winners and I’m genuinely happy for Bobby for all he’s done for college soccer,” said Maryland head coach Sasho Cirovski. “I hope he enjoys this one.
“At Maryland, we shoot for the stars every year. We aim high. And when you aim that high and when you don’t reach it, you still end up at the moon, which is higher than most people.”
Andrew O’Malley and Leon Brown scored the Notre Dame goals. Also having a big game was College Cup Co-Most Outstanding Player Harrison Shipp.
Patrick Mullins, who led the nation in scoring, scored the Terps goal. Mullins has been named the MAC Hermann Trophy winner for the second consecutive year, symbolic of the NCAA Division I Player of the Year.
Notre Dame reached the championship game with 2-0 over New Mexico, while Maryland defeated longtime ACC rival Virginia, 2-1.
Like the Women’s College Cup, three of the four men’s semifinalists were from the ACC.
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