In the 101st minute of a double overtime game, Rider University put a shot in the back of the net, defeating the Sacred Heart Pioneers men’s soccer team 1-0 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) quarterfinal.
Following the end of the game, emotions were up and down for the Pioneers.
“We were all pretty disappointed. We got a bunch of guys who played their last season and to all of us those are legends of the program,” said junior Matthias Dick. “I do believe there was also a little bit of pride afterwards for the performance we put on the pitch against Rider, a team who was tied for first in the conference.”
The loss would mark the end of the Pioneers’ inaugural season in the MAAC. The team finished with an overall record of 8-6-2, their best since 2012.
“We have changed our style of play. We have been working with our style right now since spring of last year and the new players have adapted very well,” said junior and captain David Garcia Gallego. “We have control in every single game. That is the most important change this year.”
Source: Contributed by David Garcia Gallego, ’26
Source: Contributed by Sam McCann, ’26
With the change of conference, also comes change in competition compared to the Northeastern Conference (NEC).
“It feels like in the MAAC, everyone can beat everyone. One week you beat a team that is higher in standings, then the next week you have a very tough game against a team that doesn’t have a good record,” said Dick. “The MAAC is very even, I feel like the NEC is more dominated by a bunch of teams.”
Despite the change in competition, three players received all conference honors. Gallego was named first team All-MAAC. Dick, and junior Sam McCann were both named third team All-MAAC.
“Matthias is a great player, I know he cares about the game at a higher level than most people do at the division one level. David busts his butt in practice, he’s one of those guys who is a hard worker, he’s our captain and he leads by example,” said McCann. “The three of us all have the same mentality that we want to go pro after we finish school and in order to do that we have to separate ourselves from the rest of the pack in our conference.”
Even though next season is still far away for the Pioneers, pieces are already being put together to see what needs to be improved and how they can return to the playoffs next season.
“I think it’s about putting together more complete games. If you go back and watch our games we had really good first halves and the second half we dropped off,” said McCann. “If we can put together a full 90 minutes of everyone doing their job, we don’t have to change a whole lot. It’s just about the little details going forward.”
Although there is no more Sacred Heart men’s soccer this season, be on the lookout for the Pioneers next year as they look to pick up where they left off.
“I advise everyone next year to be ready and come to men’s soccer games,” said Dick. “I think it’s going to be an exciting season and I think no one’s going to make a mistake by coming to our home games.”
