Timmy Gleason ’28
Staff Writer
We are officially in the full swing of the men’s collegiate soccer season! Last week, we discussed the early season results of the Holy Cross Women’s Soccer Team and this week we’re taking a look at the men’s campaign so far and highlighting some key details and games.
Before that, it is significant to note some results that have occurred for the women’s team since the publication of last week’s article. On Thursday, Sept. 11, the Crusaders partook in a goal-less draw at the home of University of Albany (1-5-2 overall). They followed that game up three days later by competing against the University of Rhode Island (6-2 overall) at Linda Johnson Smith Soccer Stadium. The women’s team was defeated by a late second-half goal scored by Junior defender Lily Camacho. They will travel next to Baltimore, Md. this weekend (specifically Saturday, Sept. 20) to take on Loyola Maryland (3-2-3 overall) at 1:00 p.m. for their first Patriot League match of the 2025/26 season.
The Holy Cross Men’s Soccer Team began its season almost one month ago via a trip to Brookline, Mass. to take on Northeastern University (2-3-1 overall). The first result in the books was a one all draw as the Huskies canceled out a Holy Cross opener as both goals were scored in the first half.
The next three games for the Crusaders all ended in one-goal deficit defeats. The first was against Merrimack College (2-2-1 overall) as graduate student Alessandro Bedei scored a last-minute goal to secure the points for the Warriors.
Just five days later, the men packed their bags to Providence, R.I., for their third successive away game to begin the season. The hosts were Brown University (2-2 overall) and though first-year defender Cayden Walton equalized for the Purple-and-White less than 10 minutes after Brown scored just five minutes into the game, an extremely late Bears’ score was enough to get over the line.
The first home game took place during a stunning hilltop sunset when University of Massachusetts-Lowell (3-2-1 overall) visited Worcester. This game was almost identical to the match against Brown. The River Hawks netted a goal when the game was just seven minutes young, but Sophomore midfielder Thomas Mancuso, assisted by Juniors Kevin Cull and James Ferraro, brought the game level. Then, a late second-half goal eked out the UMass-Lowell win.
However, the Crusaders are unbeaten in their last two competitions and also in Patriot League play. In the span of a week, a win versus Anna Maria College (1-3-1 overall) and a tie against the United States’ Naval Academy (1-2-4 overall) will definitely brighten spirits around the Luth Center. In the latter match, Junior Kevin Cull netted a penalty and less than thirty seconds later a familiar face (hint: an aforementioned sophomore midfielder) wrote his name onto the score sheet once again. Assisting was again Junior Cull and earning his first collegiate assist was First-Year forward Alex Groom.
It was the second-half show all over again as another newcomer, first-year forward Archie Hatcher, shot and scored his first collegiate goal of his career in the 67th minute. But, the Black Knights also found the net and equalized, which ended up being the final score.
These two performances against formidable opponents will be encouraging as the Crusaders progress further and further into the season. Their next match was yet another away game, taking place an hour away in Easton, Mass. against Stonehill College (2-4 overall) on Sept. 17. The deadline for articles was Sept. 15, before this match was played.
Following the Stonehill match, things are set to heat up as Patriot League play begins. The Leopards of Lafayette College (2-4-1 overall) will visit Woo-town tomorrow, Sept. 20 for another 4:00 pm kickoff. Though the season has just begun, it’s astounding that we’re already more than five games into the campaign, but thankfully we have a lot more Crusader soccer left to play.
*note the record is displayed as: (wins-losses-draws)
Featured image courtesy of @hcrossmsoccer on Instagram
Copy Edited by Ella Woei ’26
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