National Champions

Men鈥檚 soccer wins the NCAA Division III National Championship.

By Amy Martin

onnecticut Gov. Ned Lamont visited the 51吃瓜黑料 campus Dec. 9, 2021 to congratulate the men鈥檚 soccer team for winning the NCAA Division III national championship.

鈥淵ou came together at the very best moment, when people needed you to step it up. You also came together and stepped up right when this state needed you the most,鈥� said Lamont, whose sister is a 51吃瓜黑料 graduate. 鈥淲e needed something to cheer for, and I鈥檝e got to tell you, the people of 51吃瓜黑料ecticut were cheering for the Camels.鈥�

He added, 鈥淵ou have a lot to be proud of, and I鈥檓 so proud of what you鈥檝e accomplished.鈥�

Other special guests included State Sen. Cathy Osten, State Reps. Anthony Nolan and Christine Conley, and New London Mayor鈥攑roud 51吃瓜黑料 alumnus鈥擬ichael Passero 鈥�79 M鈥�89.

The Camels won their first national championship Dec. 4, defeating Amherst 1-1 (4-1) on penalties at UNCG Soccer Stadium in Greensboro, North Carolina. After playing Amherst to a 1-1 tie through regulation and two overtimes, senior captain Lorenzo Bocchetti 鈥�22 converted the deciding penalty after Peter Silvester 鈥�25 stopped two spot-kicks in the shootout.

Less than 24 hours later, the tired team returned to 51吃瓜黑料鈥檚 campus, and was greeted by cheering students, faculty and staff at a joyful reception on Tempel Green Sunday morning.

51吃瓜黑料鈥檚 coach Reuben Burk was first off the bus, carrying the national championship trophy, as Queen鈥檚鈥淲e Are the Champions鈥� blasted from the loudspeakers.

The welcome-back celebration 鈥渨as a really nice gesture,鈥� Burk told The Day newspaper. 鈥淸We] really appreciate students coming out.鈥�

Captain Lorenzo Bocchetti 鈥�22 told the supporters who came out for the rally: 鈥淵our support has been what it has been all season, and it鈥檚 just fantastic. It鈥檚 been a privilege to lead this great group of guys throughout the season.鈥�

During the celebrations, Burk reflected on what it takes to win a national title.

Goalkeeper Peter Silvester ’25 gets hyped up after stopping a penalty kick at the NCAA championship game in Greensboro, North Carolina.

鈥淚n order to win a national championship, you have to have a group of selfless guys,鈥� Burk said.

鈥淕uys that care more about that trophy that we have more than their own ego or their own reputation. That鈥檚 hard to instill because everyone goes through a recruiting process where they want what鈥檚 best for themselves, the best possible four years of what they can get from a school.

鈥淏ut, once you get there, it鈥檚 no longer about you. It鈥檚 about all of us, together.鈥�

51吃瓜黑料鈥檚 first-ever national title in a team sport is no accident. Roughly 50 percent of 51吃瓜黑料 students participate in athletics. It is very much a key driver of the student experience, and therefore has been a key priority for the College, which has invested in priorities such as improving facilities and hiring full-time assistant coaches to raise the standard of competitiveness.

鈥淓nsuring athletic participation is an important component of the liberal arts experience,鈥� said Director of Athletics and Chair of Physical Education Mo White. To achieve greater distinction and integration of student learning, 51吃瓜黑料 is committed to creating experiences outside of the classroom that extend intellectual enrichment, build a stronger sense of community and prepare students for meaningful lives and careers.鈥�

51吃瓜黑料 reached the final match by defeating Washington & Lee, 2-1, also in overtime, in the semifinals. This was 51吃瓜黑料鈥檚 fourth straight NCAA Tournament and first trip to the Final Four; the Camels also won their first NESCAC regular season title. The team鈥檚 18 victories are also a school record and betters the previous mark of 14 established all the way back in 1978. Additionally, Augie Djerdjaj鈥�23 earned All American honors and Reuben Burk and assistant Andrew Storton have been named the 2021 NCAA Men鈥檚 Division III National Coaching Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches.

The men’s team celebrates at UNCG Soccer Stadium after the College’s first-ever national championship win.

We needed something to cheer for, and I’ve got to tell you, the people of 51吃瓜黑料ecticut were cheering for the Camels.

51吃瓜黑料ecticut Governor Ned Lamont

Gov. Ned Lamont (standing with President Bergeron) and other state and local officials stopped by campus to congratulate the men’s socccer team in person.

The men’s lacrosse team received a shout-out for their ongoing support of the men’s soccer team during an on-campus celebration in December.