Photo Courtesy of Stephen Miller
As the whistle blew marking the end of 90 minutes of gritty and passionate play in Fredericksburg, VA, the Connecticut College Men’s Soccer team’s valiant NCAA National Tournament run came to an end. The Camels fell to Washington College (MD.) in their Elite Eight matchup on November 19th, giving up a goal to the Shoremen in the 28th minute. Despite battling gallantly for the remainder of the match, the team was unable to answer the first-half goal, ending in a final score of 1-0. The Camels finished the season with an impressive 12-2-7 record, and their trip to the Elite Eight marks the third in team history. While the squad came up short of their goal of a second national championship title (first achieved in 2021), the team’s remarkable season and tournament run will not soon be forgotten, particularly by senior members Matthew Scoffone ‘24 and Dylan Zane ‘24. We spoke with Scoffone and Zane about their experiences in the national championship tournament, and despite the season’s bittersweet conclusion, it is clear that they will be leaving a team with a bright future ahead of it.
How would you describe the overall experience of competing in the national tournament?
Matthew Scoffone (Class of 2024, Position: Forward, Team Captain, From: Thornton, PA):
Competing in the NCAA tournament is unlike anything else. The goal of the regular season is to get you into the tournament. Once it actually starts, the energy is electric. Every game is win or go home, so they are super competitive, and winning is that much more enjoyable.
Dylan Zane (Class of 2024, Position: Forward, From: Montego Bay, Jamaica):
You know, for the upperclassmen, it was our second time competing in the tournament, and in complete honesty both times around it almost feels normal…we know we belong there. The standard we set for the boys both in and out of season is extremely high and is meant to get us competing in the tournament each year so it’s just the reward for the hours of hard work we put into perfecting our craft.
What were some of the high points of the tournament? What were some of the challenges?
MS: The tournament was a roller coaster from the very start. The first three rounds all went into overtime, with both the round of 32 and Sweet 16 going into penalty shootouts. We faced challenges by giving up leads, but we were still able to get results which speaks to our team’s character.
DZ: Of course, throughout the tournament almost all the games we played we were first to grab the lead, which is always confidence enhancing. Taking the lead tends to build the team’s momentum but during the tournament a few times our opponent was able to even the score which was frustrating, causing us to go into overtime numerous times this year.
What do you believe were the team’s strengths that helped you in the season and tournament?
MS: I think the unity and resiliency of our team was a major factor in the successful season we had. The season was not always pretty. We went down many times. We gave up leads many times. However, it was the belief of our team that allowed us to continue to get results.
DZ: Like previous years, it’s the depth we have on the bench! Numerous players can be put in and leave instant impacts on the pitch as well as keeping and even raising the level of the game. We also had a handful of first-years step up and claim a lot of minutes which helped propel us throughout the season. It is almost a staple of our game.
Were there any standout performances from your teammates during the tournament that you would like to highlight?
MS: I think most of our team played very well during the tournament, but I’d like to highlight Peter Silvester ‘25. In his career at Conn, we are 6-0 during penalty shootouts, and a huge reason is because of him. In both penalty shootouts during our tournament run this year, Peter saved at least one shot to help us move on.
DZ: Jack Creus ‘24, phenomenal season from the lad, consistently came in as a game-changing sub with impactful goals and assists to put the boys up many times in the season as well as in the tournament.
How do you think this tournament run will shape the team’s future?
MS: Making it far into the tournament gave the freshmen and sophomores experience that can help the team make another dangerous run next year. Also, after not making the tournament last season, it gives us more belief that we are a national championship-caliber team. The last time Conn lost in the Elite 8, we won the championship the following season.
DZ: Bittersweet ending for sure, but it will only be fuel for the boys this off-season leading into fall 24’ to leave their impact. Nothing but greatness for the future of this team.
What will you take away from this tournament run personally?
MS: This run has made me appreciate the hard work and sacrifice of so many guys on the team to get to where we ended up. Every person on the team had an impact whether they knew it or not, and I loved being part of a team with such selfless people. Shoutout to the coaching staff (Coach Burk, Storton, and Elliot). Without them, we couldn’t have made it as far as we did.
