LA PLATA, Md. — The College of Southern Maryland men’s soccer team opened its 2025-26 campaign with a 0-0 draw against Cape Fear Community College on Aug. 24, relying on stout defense and a standout performance from freshman goalkeeper Matthew Knapp to secure a point in a physical matchup at the CSM Soccer Field.
Knapp, a La Plata High School graduate who joined CSM men’s soccer this season, recorded six saves to earn his first collegiate shutout, thwarting multiple threats from the Sea Devils. The Hawks managed 10 shots but struggled to convert, with forwards Aydyn Meaders, Hayden Miller and Marvin Bates-Williams each registering two attempts. Meaders and Bates-Williams placed one shot on target apiece, while Zion Abdullah, Xavier Lalanne, Josky Densie and Shamar McKen also tested Cape Fear goalkeeper Jayden Drum, who made two saves in the tie. Cape Fear outshot CSM 18-10 and held a 5-4 edge in corner kicks, but the Hawks committed 14 fouls to the visitors’ 21, resulting in five yellow cards total—three for Cape Fear and two for CSM, including one to the team bench.
The contest marked the season and home opener for CSM men’s soccer, now 0-0-1 overall. Cape Fear, which entered with a 1-0 record after a 1-0 win over Anne Arundel Community College on Aug. 22, moved to 1-0-1. Jonathan Leon led the Sea Devils with four shots, followed by Andrew Allain with four and Dominic McNerney with two. The game, attended by 134 fans, lasted two hours under sunny conditions, with referee Alex Luttman and assistants overseeing a chippy affair that saw yellows issued in both halves.
CSM men’s soccer controlled possession at times but couldn’t break through Cape Fear’s backline, anchored by players like Andrei Todorovic and Zaiere Evans. The Hawks’ defense, featuring returners like Donovan Dean—who drew a yellow card—and newcomers such as Fondjo Ulrich Kamyou and Henri Mietchop, bent but didn’t break. Cape Fear’s best chances came in the second half, but Knapp’s reflexes kept the sheet clean. The result extends Cape Fear’s unbeaten streak in the series to four games since 2012, where the Sea Devils hold a 3-0-1 lead. CSM men’s soccer has yet to defeat Cape Fear, with the last meeting a 3-1 loss on Aug. 29, 2015.
Under first-year head coach Nick Porovne, CSM men’s soccer aims to rebound from a 2-9-2 record in the 2024-25 season. Porovne, promoted from assistant coach in January 2025 after joining the staff in spring 2022, brings a focus on defensive solidity and quick transitions. “We’re building with a mix of veterans and fresh talent,” according to team previews, emphasizing Knapp’s dual-role versatility—he scored 20 goals as a field player in high school but has transitioned effectively to goalkeeper for CSM men’s soccer. The roster includes locals like Dominic Porovne, Nelson Acevedo Jr. and Everton McKinney, blending experience with youth to target a return to Region 20 contention.
Cape Fear, based in Wilmington, N.C., fields a competitive squad with standouts like Leon and Allain, competing in NJCAA Division II. The Sea Devils have a history of strong regional play, including semi-professional placements for alumni. For CSM men’s soccer, the draw provides momentum heading into conference action.
CSM men’s soccer next travels to Columbia for a 2 p.m. matchup against Howard Community College on Aug. 26, marking the start of Maryland JUCO and Region 20 play. The Hawks’ schedule includes home games against Potomac State on Oct. 3 and Garrett on Oct. 11, with the full slate available on the team’s site. Porovne’s squad will look to capitalize on defensive strengths while sharpening its attack in pursuit of postseason goals.
The program, part of the NJCAA, continues to develop talent from Southern Maryland high schools, with Knapp exemplifying the local pipeline. CSM men’s soccer last tasted championship success in earlier eras, and this season’s early resilience signals potential improvement.
