Throughout the fall semester, the City University of New York Athletic Conference will look back at some of its historic fall championship teams, recognizing the rich tradition of athletic excellence by the league's 13 member institutions.
In 2002, the Medgar Evers men's soccer program posted perhaps its best season in program history. Coming off a 5-13-1 record the year prior, the Cougars more than doubled their wins, going 12-8-1 overall with a 5-2-1 mark in conference play, both single-season team records for wins and winning percentage. Led by CUNYAC Coach of the Year
Stanley Harmon, Medgar Evers entered the CUNYAC Championship as the No. 2 seed, its highest finish since 2000.
The Cougars were led by a pair of CUNYAC All-Stars in underclassmen
Thomas Nelson and
Noel Watson. Nelson was one of the top backs in the conference, while Watson ranked among the top-five in scoring, producing a CUNYAC-best 14 assists during the season. In 2002, Medgar Evers one of the top offensive threats, scoring a league-high 51 goals.
The Cougars opened up the tournament with a thrilling 4-3 victory over seventh-seeded Baruch. Medgar Evers produced three first-half goals in a 13-minute stretch for a commanding lead. The Bearcats rallied back with three second half goals in the final nine minutes of regulation to force extra time. In the overtime period, the Cougars got the golden goal from
Omar Gordon in the 95th minute to advance to the next round.
In the semifinals, Medgar Evers exploded for four second half scores to defeat No. 3 City Tech, 4-1. The match was highlighted by a trio of assists from Watson and a pair of goals from
Jason Dryden, powering the Cougars to the championship final for the fifth time in team history.
Hoping the fifth time would be a charm, Medgar Evers met regular season champion CCNY in the final match at the Metropolitan Oval. The Cougars blanketed the Beavers, 4-0, to capture its first-ever CUNYAC Championship. Sophomore forward
Sekou Forbes was tabbed the tournament's Most Valuable Player, scoring and/or assisting on each of the match's first two goals.
Medgar Evers advanced to the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship for the first time in school history with an opening round match against Babson College. The Beavers ended the Cougars' historic campaign with a 3-0 decision.