Tigers suffer heartbreaking loss in national title game

After years of being so close to playing for a national championship, the fourth-seed Cowley College men's soccer team got its opportunity on Saturday. The Tigers gave everything they had and more before losing to top-seed Iowa Western on penalty kicks on Saturday at the NJCAA Division I Men's Soccer National Championship game held at the SCHEELS Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, KS.

Cowley had not lost since a 2-1 defeat against Indian Hills on September 25 and finished the season with a record of 16-2-4.

"It was a heartbreaking ending to a magical season," Cowley head coach Ruy Vaz said. "It was tough to see the guys hurting, but I couldn't ask more from them; they left everything on the field."

Iowa Western caps an undefeated season with a record of 22-0-3. The Reivers' previous title came in 2021.

On Saturday, Iowa Western took little time to impose its will as the Reivers scored off a corner kick. Efraims Valutadatlis hit the corner kick into the box where Carlos Camara was there to head in with 37:37 left in the first half.

Cowley attempted to answer back and had two corner kicks in the next five minutes, nearly leading to goals. However, both teams had scoring opportunities go awry as the Reivers went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.

Playing from behind, the Tigers continued to put pressure on Iowa Western before Carmelo Bello was able to tie the game up with his ninth goal of the season with only 7:19 remaining in regulation.

The teams would then head into overtime and then a second before having the game decided on penalty kicks. The Reivers would eventually prevail as the Tiger's dream season came to an end.

In what was another successful campaign for the Tigers, Cowley had its season end at the national tournament for the sixth time in the past seven years.

"I am very proud of every single one of the guys; they have represented our institution to the best of their abilities, and, most importantly, they have become friends for life on the field, and they love Cowley," Vaz said.

Cowley will say goodbye to sophomores Kohsuke Fukudome, Andre Ecker, Takeru Chiba, Sota Nakazono, Takuto Kawase, Joao Magalhaes, Shogo Haraikawa, Israel Anima, Gustavo Matheus, and Kamy Ndione.

"I want to thank the sophomores; it was the best class of sophomores I have ever had, and I know they will go on to do great things in life," Vaz said.

Ndione and Chiba were named to the All-Tournament Team.