CHARELSTON, W. Va. - The United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) added a new National Champion to their record books Saturday afternoon. WVU Tech took the title in a 2-1 victory over the University of Maine at Fort Kent in the 2013 USCAA National Tournament.
Senior
Dennis Fuerst, Tournament MVP, scored a total of six goals during Tournament play including the golden goal in the semi-final against Lindenwood University - Bellville and the game-winning goal to help Tech get the trophy.
The Golden Bears finished the season with an overall record of 18-2-1, including a 4-3 win over UMFK during the regular season. The Bengals ended their 2013 run with an impressive 17-3 record.
As the host school, WVU Tech had the support from a combination of family, friends, and Golden Bear fans giving Trace Fork an electrifying atmosphere for the men's final game of the season.
"It was a great accomplishment for the university and the student body. We had amazing support through out the tournament, without them we wouldn't have been able to beat one of the best teams I've seen in my coaching career in Maine Fort Kent," stated WVU Tech head coach Luis Cortell.
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Tech took that energy and struck first in the Championship game after a grueling 30 minutes of battling with the Bengals. The Golden Bears put out six shots on goal in that time, but it was the seventh that put Tech on the scoreboard.
"Our players performed as good as they could under such pressure, and given all the energy we spent the day before, I am pretty amazed we had anything left in the tank," says Cortell.
Freshman
Glenroy Miller, All-Tournament Team member, attempted the sixth shot with a header in the 28th minute, unable to get it past UMFK's defender Sebastien Arsenault. The Bengals took the play to the other end, shooting on frame when freshman
Akeil Williams made an excellent defensive play, giving Tech control again.
Fuerst ended up with the ball down field when he found an open teammate, delivering the perfect cross to Miller who headed it in to take Tech to a 1-0 lead, with 15 minutes left in the half.
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Both sides were held to just four shots total for the remainder of the first 45 minutes, including another Miller attempt, blocked by Arsenault.
"I'm very proud of my teammates and the coaches for all the hard work and fight put in to end the tournament. The semi-finals on Friday set the tone for us by winning in overtime and the boys took that spirit into the finals, fighting very hard to win our first Championship," proclaims Miller, "I was a bit ill but as Coach Cortell always says, the team is going to need you so I have to step up and make plays. It was a joy to come off the bench and push my teammates scoring the go-ahead goal to help give my team more confidence and we were able to win the Championship."
The Golden Bears didn't waste time at the start of the second half, taking a shot only 28 seconds in and getting one more off before UMFK retaliated. In the 58th minute, Ben Kluvers of UMFK found a way past Tech's defense to even the score, 1-1.
WVU Tech's defense picked up the pace working hard and working together for the remaining time left in this 90 minute match-up, only allowing the Bengals five more shots, none on goal. Tech's defense also helped the Golden Bears gain the advantage of corner kicks, 7-2.
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A couple of seconds before the clock stopped at 72:01, senior
Raul Martin made his way towards the goal when he saw the opportunity to deliver the ball to Fuerst. Martin and Fuerst connected to score what ended up being the game-winning goal in the 73rd minute.
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Freshman goalkeeper
Hunter Moles, All-Tournament Team member, saved two more shots on goal after Tech took the lead 2-1, to help secure the victory.
Moles had a total of three saves, one goal allowed during the Championship game. The freshman ended the season with a 0.33 goals against average, topping the USCAA charts.
"My teammates did a great job at scoring goals and always do. Having great teammates make winning the National Championship even more exciting. Our whole team did their part to help us win," comments Moles.
As a team, the Golden Bears held advantage in shots, 17-3 and shots on target, 11-6.
Tech boasted four players, two seniors and two freshmen, on the All-Tournament team with Fuerst (MVP), Miller, Moles, and senior
Joe Jackson.
"Now I will concentrate on recruitment because we are losing a lot of talent and amazing individuals, so four hours after the game I already started to plan for next season's training and recruitment," said Cortell.
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Women's soccer entered the 2013 USCAA National Soccer Tournament as the tenth seed, upsetting the No. 7 seed, Paul Smith's College, 2-0 before being knocked out by No. 2 seed and eventual Tournament runner-up, Daemen College. Daemen fell to UMFK in an overtime thriller in the final, 3-2.
WVU Tech and the city of Charleston look forward to hosting the USCAA National Soccer Tournament for men's and women's soccer in 2014.
Check out more great photos of the tournament by visiting
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