Neumann take down Marymount to win third straight Atlantic East title

Neumann Men’s Soccer defeated Marymount University 2-0 at home on Saturday afternoon, winning the Atlantic East Championship for the third straight year and earning a bid to the DIII NCAA Tournament. The opener was scored by Zion Atta-Krah, with Conor McCarthy bagging the second just before halftime.

Neumann and Marymount have become rivals over recent seasons, facing off multiple times in each of the last four seasons. Neumann have won three of the last four matchups. Neumann opened the scoring late in the first half via a 37th minute goal from Zion Atta-Krah
from a Josh Moreland assist. Wrestling the ball away from a defender, Atta-Krah finished past the goalkeeper and celebrated emphatically, taking his shirt off and holding it up to the traveling Marymount fans. The opening goal was Atta-Krah’s sixth of the season.

Marymount had a chance to level the score just before half from a set piece. The delivery into the box was cleared by a Neumann defender, catching the head of a Marymount attacker in the process. The official determined there was no high boot on the play, and the whistle did not blow.

With numbers up the field for Marymount, Neumann were then able to hit on the counter. A composed through pass from Moreland found Owen Rem, who drilled a low cross to Conor McCarthy, who was alone at the back post. McCarthy emphatically shot past the goalkeeper, extending the lead to 2-0 on the stroke of halftime, adding to Marymount’s misery with a celebration to match Atta-Krah.
Marymount started the second half determined for a chance to get back into the match but struggled with the high line of Neumann. Marymount were caught offside countless times throughout the match, and the players became increasingly more frustrated with the line judge.

In the 82nd minute, Marymount had a chance from a corner kick. Finding a man in the box, the powerful header towards goal by Marymount was cleared off the line by former University of Delaware player Jordan Illian. That was Marymount’s last chance of the match as Neumann finished it off.

“It’s a little surreal in the moment,” third-year Neumann head coach Erik Temple said post-game. “We tried not to look too much in the past and just focus on the team and the group, [taking it] one day at a time. I know its cliché coaches’ talk, but that’s what got us here today.”

Senior goalkeeper AJ Henry was named Tournament MVP. When asked about Henry’s performance, Temple replied, “I think it’s because of him, as a person. Not a lot of people know but he’s been playing through an injury all year, and just kind of toughed it out every game. But I’m super proud of him… it’s a big moment and I think he used last years’ experience to propel us to a championship today.”

Henry wore a heavy brace on his knee throughout the match, deferring some goal kicks to his center backs.

“In my senior year, to go from not playing at all last year to playing in the NCAA Tournament game, and losing 3-1, it feels great to be able to come in and win games and win a championship with my boys.”

Neumann’s third consecutive conference title earns them a DIII NCAA Championship bid. Neumann will await the bracket release on Monday to learn their opponent.