Saturday evening proved to be a thrilling showcase for college men’s soccer, with three standout matchups across the country delivering drama, grit, and no shortage of goals. From the rain-soaked turf of Shaw Field in Washington, D.C., to the humid air of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and all the way to the heartland in Ottawa, Kansas, teams battled not just for victory but for conference positioning and pride.
Let’s start at Shaw Field, where the No. 14/20 Georgetown Hoyas faced the University of Connecticut Huskies in a BIG EAST Conference clash. The stakes were high, with both teams entering the contest boasting identical 7-3-3 records. But by the final whistle, Georgetown had pulled away decisively, notching a 4-1 victory and asserting their dominance in league play.
The match’s opening moments were anything but predictable. Despite Georgetown’s early offensive pressure—dangerous shots from both Mitchell Baker and Mateo Ponce Ocampo were expertly turned away by UConn keeper Kyle Durham—it was the Huskies who struck first. In the 15th minute, Charlie Holmes split the Hoyas’ backline and coolly slotted home the opener, giving UConn a 1-0 edge and momentarily silencing the home crowd.
But the Hoyas didn’t flinch. Head coach Brian Wiese praised his team’s composure, saying, “Tonight was a fantastic performance because of, in some ways, what happened on Tuesday. We had the midweek game. UConn didn’t have to manage that, they had a full week to rest and prepare. But the mentality we showed through 90 minutes was really, really good, especially going down early in the game. We didn’t panic, we just kept the game plan intact.”
Georgetown’s response was swift. In the 28th minute, Ponce Ocampo weaved his way along the endline, eluding a pair of defenders before being tripped inside the box. The referee pointed straight to the spot, and senior Zach Zengue stepped up with confidence. As rain poured down, Zengue buried the penalty, leveling the score at one apiece and shifting the momentum back in the Hoyas’ favor.
The rest of the first half saw Georgetown pressing for a go-ahead goal, but the teams entered halftime deadlocked. UConn came out strong after the break, testing the Hoyas’ defense with a flurry of attacks. Still, senior goalkeeper Tenzing Manske stood tall, making three important saves over the course of the evening and keeping his side in contention.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 75th minute. Freshman Loukas Maroutsis found Zengue, who then played a sharp pass out to Baker on the left flank. Baker wasted no time, firing a clinical shot to the far post to put Georgetown ahead 2-1. The goal ignited the home supporters and seemed to sap the energy from the Huskies.
Just six minutes later, Georgetown’s relentless attack paid off again. Zengue delivered a dangerous free kick into the box, and the UConn defense—under heavy pressure—accidentally redirected the ball into their own net, gifting the Hoyas a 3-1 cushion. Zengue, who was everywhere on the pitch, wasn’t done. With just two minutes left in regulation, he pounced on a rebound after his initial shot was saved, slotting in his second goal of the night and sealing the 4-1 result. It marked Zengue’s fourth multi-goal game of the season, a remarkable feat for the senior.
Statistically, the Hoyas dominated: they outshot UConn 25-10, with 13 attempts on target to the Huskies’ five. They also earned seven corners, compared to UConn’s four. The victory pushed Georgetown to 7-3-3 overall and a commanding 3-0-1 in BIG EAST play, while UConn slipped to 2-2-0 in the league. Next up for the Hoyas is a trip to Chicago to face DePaul University on October 18; the match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Meanwhile, down in Florida, the 25th-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks continued their strong campaign with a 2-1 win over the Rollins Tars at NSU Soccer Stadium. The Sharks, now 5-2-1 overall and 2-2-1 in the Sunshine State Conference, got goals from Santiago Hoyos Lopez and Toga Katsuma. Katsuma’s effort, a breakaway finished with poise past the Rollins goalkeeper, proved to be the match-winner. The Tars mounted a late comeback attempt, scoring in the 75th minute, but Nova Southeastern’s defense held firm to secure the three points. The Sharks now look ahead to a road showdown with the Panthers on October 15, a key fixture as they seek to climb the SSC standings.
Out in Ottawa, Kansas, the Braves extended their winning streak to five with a gripping 3-2 victory over Kansas Wesleyan at AdventHealth Field. The Coyotes drew first blood in the 22nd minute, but Ottawa’s Antonio Natalucci leveled the score with a spectacular long-range strike in the 33rd. After a tense halftime, Ottawa seized control in the second half. Sam Hatswell’s deflected shot, assisted by Alonso Basauri in the 68th minute, put the Braves ahead, and Martin Basso added an insurance goal just six minutes later off a Felipe Padierna assist. Kansas Wesleyan responded immediately with a goal from Mateo Hoyos, but despite a barrage of late chances—including multiple shots off the crossbar and a series of heroic saves from Ottawa keeper David Martinez—the Braves held on. Ottawa finished with a slight edge in total shots (15 to 12) and matched Kansas Wesleyan with eight shots on goal apiece. Martinez’s six saves were crucial in preserving the win, which lifted Ottawa to 7-1-5 overall and 6-0-2 in KCAC play. The Braves will hit the road next, traveling to Bethany College for a primetime clash on October 18.
Across all three contests, individual brilliance and team resilience were on full display. Whether it was Zengue’s clinical finishing for Georgetown, Katsuma’s breakaway speed for Nova Southeastern, or Martinez’s shot-stopping heroics for Ottawa, Saturday night offered a reminder of why college soccer continues to capture the imagination of fans nationwide.
With conference races heating up and every point mattering more as the season progresses, these teams will look to build on their momentum in the coming weeks. From the nation’s capital to the heartland and the Sunshine State, the beautiful game was alive and well this weekend—delivering moments that will shape the rest of the campaign.
