Pittsburgh, PA – CMCC Men's Soccer captured its second straight USCAA National Championship with a 2-0 victory against #3 University of Cincinnati Clermont College at Highmark Stadium. Matty Waters scored both goals, one in each half, off corner kicks from Albie Fozard-Oakes to secure back-to-back titles and cap an undefeated season for the Mustangs.

"This team showed up everyday just ready to work," said head coach Dalton Wing after the match. "We talked about it (going back-to-back) on the first day of preseason, that this was our ultimate goal. We knew we'd still have to handle every team in front of us each step of the way, but this group stayed focused, worked hard, and they deserve it."

The Mustangs got off to a lightning-fast start on a windy Monday along the banks of the Ohio River. Yoan Thériault had a low shot from the top of the box that was saved by Cavan Aldridge in the first minute. The Cougars goalkeeper spilled the rebound though, and Central Maine would cash in on the ensuing corner kick.

Fozard-Oakes whipped a cross to the back post and Waters left the defense standing, as he leapt to head the back into the back of the net. It was the fifth goal of the year for the 1^st-Team All-American defender from Knutsford, England. The tally in the second minute of the match was also somehow faster than the Mustangs opener that Waters set up in the 2024 national championship, when Ivan Domingues scored in the third minute of play.

This time though, there would not be a resulting onslaught of goals like in last year's title match. In fact, the Mustangs had to weather a few chances from Cincinnati-Clermont in the next couple of minutes. A corner kick for the Cougars set up a scramble in the box, but Jake Menz's backheel was smothered by Cody Cleaveland.

The sophomore goalkeeper then made his biggest save in the fourth minute. Right back Logan Trout pinged a beautiful ball in behind the CMCC back line, putting Trey Wynn through on goal. The Cougars' 2^nd-Team All-American forward got into the area, but Cleaveland came off his line to cut down the angle, saving the point blank shot to preserve the lead.

That would prove to be the final clear-cut chance of the half. Wynn had a tame effort on frame from a free kick that was saved, and Daniel Semple had a bending effort towards the near post smothered on the other end. The Mustangs headed back to the locker room with the lead, but also with a frustrated coach needing to snap his team to life.

"I'll spare you some of the language that I used, but I just told them to relax," said Wing. "We needed to play our game and how we were capable of playing. We knew we were going to have to weather the storm, 10-15 minutes at a time. That's what we did, just relaxed on the ball in the second half and stopped them from getting many opportunities."

CMCC certainly looked more composed in the final 45 minutes. Semple got in behind the UC-Clermont back line in the 49^th minute but could not add to his haul of 18 goals on the season by making it three in three games at the national tournament. Cameron then had a shot from the left side of the box blocked, which set up the team's second goal.

Fozard-Oakes was once again the provider on an in-swinging corner kick from the far side. The Mustangs stacked three players in front of the goalkeeper, but it was Waters coming from deeper in the box who would score his second. The sophomore fullback left two defenders laying in a heap, as he once again headed home from point-blank range in the 53^rd minute.

"Honestly, there wasn't anything we really studied about set pieces before the game," Waters said. "I just made the same run I always make in the box, and luckily Albie put in two great crosses which I was able to finish."

From there, Central Maine simply had to hold the Cincinnati-Clermont attack at bay. Dylan Withers had a chance in the box that was stopped by Cleaveland's leg, and Alex McAfee drew a full-stretch diving save from the captain to push his free kick around the post in the 69^th minute. Those would be the two best chances for the Cougars to get back in the game.

The Mustangs took advantage of more players pushing up on the offensive end to create some chances on the counterattack. Semple saw a header toward the corner pushed behind for a corner. Mikel Soto had a dipping drive held. Cameron scuffed a shot on target on a run in the box, and Sam Boynton picked off a pass from the goalkeeper only to see his effort saved.

Cleaveland was called upon for one more acrobatic stop with six minutes to play. A cross from the right wing was deflected by Waters and was headed towards the near post before the captain from Richmond, ME dove back across to keep it out.

As the final minutes ticked off the clock, CMCC simply played keep away to secure the win. When the horn sounded, Cameron and Thériault doused the coaches with the water cooler to set off the celebrations for the team's second consecutive national title.

"It's surreal to be part of this program's success," said Cameron. "It's hard getting to the top but it's even harder to stay there. Alfie, Cody, and I might be labeled as captains, but we are blessed to have a squad full of leaders with internal drive. The lads deserved it more than anyone and it's an honor to be a part of it."

Cameron added Tournament MVP honors to his haul of awards this season that includes USCAA Player of the Year, 1^st-Team All-American, YSCC Player of the Year, and YSCC All-Conference. He is joined on the USCAA All-Tournament team by Waters, Semple, and Fozard-Oakes.

Men's Soccer finishes with an undefeated invincible record of 16-0-3 overall. It's the CMCC athletic program's sixth USCAA national title and second for the soccer team. The 2025 squad becomes the first Mustangs' program to win back-to-back national championships and the first to do it without losing a game all season long.

The team travels back to Auburn, ME on Tuesday night where they will be met by students and staff. The school will also honor the team with a celebration at Kirk Hall Gymnasium on Thursday afternoon.