NCAA College Cup: Marshall wins first-ever title; Pitt’s Mirkovic & Loeffelsend named to All-Tournament Team

The Marshall Thundering Herd men’s soccer program captured the schools first-ever NCAA title on Monday night, defeating Indiana, 1-0, in a match that went to extra time, on a goal by senior Jamil Roberts.

Roberts, who was the hero in MU’s 1-0 wins against Georgetown and North Carolina previously in the tournament, came through again for the Herd on Monday with a 98th minute on a second effort goal, as he was unmarked on the far left post side to pounce on a rebound.

HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE ‼️@HerdMSoccer ARE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME!#CollegeCup pic.twitter.com/JmNr6IWb2W

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) May 18, 2021

Marshall’s pace and pressure proved to be too much for Indiana on this night. The Hoosiers, a top defensive team in college soccer, who defeated Pitt on Friday night, 1-0, were peppered with eight shots on frame and seven corners in the title game. But IU held its shape and threatened on the counter multiple times keeping the College Cup newcomers at bay. It wasn’t until late in the second that Marshall asserted itself, keeping IU on the defensive through the end regulation and overtime until Roberts’ winner.

With the win, Marshall took down three of the eight national seeds — No. 1 Clemson, No. 8 Georgetown, No. 3 Indiana —  in this year’s tournament and elevated itself to the pinnacle of college soccer.

It was a remarkable finish and astounding jump for a school that was celebrating its first NCAA tournament win a season ago.

Marshall has four players from the Pittsburgh-region on its roster, including, Anthony Rowan (Hounds Academy & Connellsville HS), Jacob Adams (Hounds Academy & Westmont Hilltop HS, Johnstown), Austin Rocke (Hounds Academy & Mars HS) along with Collin Mocyunas, who is from Morgantown, WV but was a product of Arsenal FC of PA.

Mocyunas started and played the full 98 minutes on the Thundering Herd’s back line.

Western PA will be well-represented on college men’s soccer’s biggest stage

All-Tournament Team 

Two Pitt Players Named to NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team 

Filip Mirkovic, Pittsburgh, M

Jasper Loeffelsend, Pittsburgh, D

Joey Maher, Indiana, D

Herbert Endeley, Indiana, F

Joe Pickering, North Carolina, D

Nathan Dossantos, Marshall, D

Vinicius Fernandes, Marshall, F

Max Schneider, Marshall, M

Vitor Dias, Marshall, M

Offensive Most Outstanding Player: Jamil Roberts, Marshall, F

Defensive Most Outstanding Player: Roman Celentano, Indiana, GK