WATERBURY, Conn. –  It was a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Championship match that had a little bit of everything in it for the top-seeded Post University Men's Soccer team. In hopes of capturing their seventh CACC title in program history in a match that saw 10 cards issued, including three red cards, giving the Eagles a man-up advantage for over 37 minutes of the contest, second-seeded University of Bridgeport played spoiler anyway at LaMoy Field. Trailing 3-1 in an 11-on-10 situation, the Purple Knights rallied for three unanswered goals, capped off by junior midfielder Joao Miranda's penalty kick goal to stun the Eagles with a 4-3 win to earn their first CACC Championship since joining the conference back in 2022.

THE BASICS

RV Post University 3, University of Bridgeport 4

RV Post University (9-2-7)

University of Bridgeport (8-4-8)

HOW IT HAPPENED
In the first half alone, four yellow cards were issued, with two going to either side, in an opening 45 minutes marked by quick scoring from both teams. In net making his first start for Post since transferring from Goldey-Beacom College was senior goalkeeper Chris Jones, who had not started since October 18th, 2023, against Jefferson University when playing for the Lightning. Jones started in place of CACC Goalkeeper of the Year, junior Leopold Dufaut, who was issued a red card in the CACC Semifinals against Holy Family University, resulting in a suspension for one match, and entered the match having played in 18 minutes, 11 of which came after Dufaut's ejection last match.

Jones was tested almost immediately on a pass across the field from junior defender Pierre Leo that made its way to freshman forward Kristians Prieditis between two Post defenders. Using his speed, the Rookie of the Year was able to pick up the loose ball as Jones came out of the net attempting to boot it away, but failed to do so, allowing Prenditis to walk in for the easy score, giving the Purple Knights a 1-0 lead only 2:41 into the match. 

However, the lead was short-lived for Bridgeport as a loose ball in the box less than five minutes later found the foot of graduate midfielder Pablo Tenorio who located senior midfielder Markus Boe Tunge for the strike that beat sophomore goalkeeper Viktor Masek on the lower right side of the net to tie the score up at one, where it would remain heading into the halftime break. 

The stretch of unanswered goals for Post would extend to three in quick succession as graduate midfielder Luis Rodrigues' corner kick went off the head of Boe Tunge, who closed with a goal and two assists, and onto the foot of graduate defender Iago Rodriguez. Rodriguez would net his first goal of the campaign, beating Masek to his right in the 50th minute, and less than two minutes later, it would be Rodrigues' turn to do further damage. Coming from Boe Tunge again, Rodrigues unloaded from over 30 yards away from the goal, dotting the ball into the upper left corner out of Masek's reach, seemingly giving Post full control of the contest as just over a minute later, senior defender and Defensive Player of the Year Bruno Cakurs was ejected from the match after earning a red card for his elbow contact on a Post player while attempting to play the ball. 

Now trailing by two goals and down a man, Bridgeport looked to be on the ropes until three minutes after the Cakurs' red card, graduate midfielder Enzo Beatrix brought the Purple Knights back to within one after senior midfielder Kaanturk Akgul's bicycle kick pass to him after the initial connection from graduate defender Ewen Le Cozic. Le Cozic would end up assisting on the game-tying goal of hte match only 5:04 later in the 61st minute when his cross pass off Miranda's initial pass made its wat to Leo, who rifled it past Jones, who slipped in the left side of the box on the cross attempt, making it a whole new match with just under 30 minutes remaining in regulation.

Five consecutive yellow and red cards would be awarded to Post in the final 30 minutes, including two only six seconds apart, as graduate defender Cormac McGinley's slide tackle inside the box led to a penalty kick for the Purple Knights that ended up resulting in the game-winning goal, while he also picked up a card after the fact. Six seconds later, before Miranda attempted the PK, Jones would be charged with a yellow card as well for approaching Miranda at the penalty dot, and he would go on to make a sliding kick save to keep the match even at three. However, the referees would rule that Jones' feet came off the line before the kick, resulting in a retry for Miranda.

Jones, who to that point already made one penalty kick save in the first half against Beatrix, would have to try doing it again against Miranda after initially believing he made the stop. This time, Miranda's stutter step move would best Jones as the junior buried the shot into the top left corner just out of the reach of the senior's outstretched arms. 

Claiming its first CACC Championship, Bridgeport would hold off the Eagles for the final 14:36 of the match, including a last chance cross into the box by senior midfielder Lukas Glade, as Masek punched the ball out of harm's way as time expired to complete the comeback win, 4-3, behind three unanswered goals of their own. The loss marked the eighth time in 14 appearances in which Post has fallen short of the title, while snapping a five-match stretch in which the Eagles were unbeaten against the Purple Knights, who last beat them back in 2010 on their home turf.

Entering the week, Post was ranked fifth in the Super Region I Rankings, giving them a strong chance of getting an at-large bid into the 10-team regional for the NCAA Tournament when it is revealed on Monday at 7:00 PM, while Bridgeport secures the automatic qualifier. However, if the Eagles make it into the NCAA Tournament, they will be without both Head Coach Ted Haley and Assistant Coach Luis Figueiredo for the first match, as both were issued red cards, resulting in an automatic one-match suspension. Figueiredo's card came in the 68th minute, forcing him from the sidelines for the remainder of the contest, while Haley's came after the conclusion of the match. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Post University holds a 6-8 record in its 14 all-time conference championship appearances, which date back to the 2002 season 
• Markus Boe Tunge, Luis Rodrigues, Iago Rodriguez, and Pablo Tenorio were all named to the CACC All-Tournament Team
• After winning the previous five consecutive CACC Championships, Post University has fallen in each of its last two appearances over the last two seasons
• Allowing four goals in today's match, this was the first time Post University has given up four goals since their 4-0 loss to Gannon University on September 25th, 2025

WHO'S NEXT
Post University will await the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Selection Show, which takes place on Monday at 7:00 PM, in hopes of earning an at-large bid into their seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament.