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League Two Alums Star in College Cup Final

By CAMERON KOUBEK - cameron.koubek@uslsoccer.com, 12/16/19, 8:30AM EST

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There was plenty of League Two talent on display as Georgetown won it all

In a thrilling 2019 College Cup Final, Georgetown defeated Virginia in penalty kicks after regulation and two overtime periods failed to decide a 3-3 stalemate.

After Virginia opened the scoring, former Manhattan SC player Zach Riviere put an excellent cross in the box. The ball eventually fell to Paul Rothrock who scored to tie the game at 1-1 in the 16th minute. Georgetown's second goal came just six minutes later and was created by three League Two products, as Riviere put in yet another good ball. It was flicked on by his Manhattan SC teammate Rio Hope-Gund, and found former North Carolina FC U23 man Daniel Wu, who finished the move.

The Long Island Rough Riders' Dylan Nealis and the Treasure Coast Tritons' Derek Dodson kept pressure on the Virginia goal, but the Cavaliers found an equalizer of their own in the 58th minute. The Hoyas would regain the advantage for a second time later in the second half, as former Black Rock FC forward Ifunanyachi Achara found space on the left flank and centered for Dodson, who slotted it home.

With time winding down and Georgetown up 3-2, OKC Energy U23 product Daryl Dike netted a dramatic equalizer for Virginia to send the game to overtime.

Neither team found the back of the net in the overtime sessions, meaning the highest scoring NCAA Division I men's soccer title game since 1980 would be decided by penalty kicks. The Hoyas won the shootout 7-6 to earn their first championship in program history.

Nealis was named Most Outstanding Defensive Player, and is also a finalist for the Mac Hermann Trophy. Dike, Achara, and Dodson are all highly touted pro prospects, along with Georgetown midfielder Jack Beer.

The game capped off a fantastic collegiate season for League Two products around the country, some of whom will now move up to the professional ranks while others will begin to gear up for the 2020 League Two season.


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