ARNOLD, Md. — The College of Southern Maryland men’s soccer team built a two-goal lead in the first half but could not hold on, tying Anne Arundel Community College 2-2 in a Maryland JUCO Conference matchup on September 2, 2025, at Siegert Field. Freshman forward Matthew Knapp scored both goals for the Hawks, who moved to 0-1-2 overall and 0-1-1 in conference play, while the Riverhawks improved to 1-2-1 overall and 1-0-1 in the conference.
Knapp struck twice in quick succession midway through the first half. His first goal came in the 28th minute, assisted by defender Diego Garcia-Diaz, giving Southern Maryland a 1-0 lead. Less than a minute later, at 28:09, Knapp added an unassisted tally to make it 2-0. Anne Arundel responded almost immediately, with midfielder Jack Bell scoring off an assist from midfielder Kevin Carter at 29:02 to cut the deficit to 2-1. Forward Lucas Cerulla tied the game at 39:02 with an unassisted goal, sending the teams into halftime level at 2-2. No goals were scored in the second half despite several opportunities.
The match featured physical play, with five yellow cards and one red card issued. Southern Maryland midfielder Donovan Dean received a yellow in the 51st minute, followed by Anne Arundel’s Kevin Carter at 75:22. Hawks defender Dominic Porovne was sent off with a red card at 80:22, leaving his team a man down for the final 10 minutes. Anne Arundel’s midfielder Stephen Liberati earned a yellow at 80:58, and Southern Maryland midfielder Nelson Acevedo Jr. was cautioned at 86:32. Fouls totaled nine for Southern Maryland and 14 for Anne Arundel.
Anne Arundel held a 17-12 edge in shots and 13-5 in shots on goal. Riverhawks goalkeeper Ethan Kiniry made three saves in the tie, his record now 1-2-1. For Southern Maryland, goalkeeper Brandon Rollins stopped 11 shots, earning his first tie of the season. Corner kicks favored Anne Arundel 7-3. The game lasted two hours and two minutes, with 75 in attendance. Officials included referee Steven Thur, assistant referee Karry Brown and assistant referee Concepcion Morales.
Knapp led the Hawks’ offense with five shots, two on goal, and his two scores. He has shown versatility early in his freshman campaign, having played goalkeeper in the season opener against Cape Fear Community College on August 24, where he made seven saves in a 0-0 draw. In the team’s 4-0 loss to Howard Community College on August 26, Knapp shifted to forward, recording shots but no goals. His performance against Anne Arundel marked his first multi-goal game at the college level. Midfielder Zion Abdullah added one shot on goal, while forward Aydyn Meaders contributed three shots, two on target.
For Anne Arundel, Cerulla paced the attack with five shots, all on goal, including his equalizer. The freshman forward from Edgewater, Maryland, and South River High School has been a key contributor, scoring in a 4-1 win over Carroll Community College on August 26. Bell’s goal was his first of the season, assisted by Carter, who also drew a yellow card. Forward Knolin Walker had three shots, two on goal, and midfielder Oliver Rivas added two shots on target.
This result continues a competitive series between the programs. In 2024, Anne Arundel defeated Southern Maryland 4-3 on September 19 in La Plata. The previous year, on October 3, 2023, Southern Maryland won 3-2 in Arnold, with three second-half goals securing the victory. Entering the game, Southern Maryland sought to rebound from its shutout loss to Howard, where the Dragons scored four times in the second half. Anne Arundel’s season started with a 1-0 loss to Cape Fear on August 22, followed by a 6-1 defeat to Richard Bland College on August 30, before the win over Carroll.
In the NJCAA Region 20 Division II standings as of early September, Howard Community College leads with a 3-0 record, followed by Cecil College at 2-1. Southern Maryland sits at 0-1-1 in the conference, while Anne Arundel is 1-0-1. Both teams compete in the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference, where results determine seeding for the Region 20 tournament.
Southern Maryland’s athletics program plays a vital role in the tri-county area of Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties, drawing local high school talent like Knapp from La Plata High School, where he scored 11 goals as a senior. The Hawks’ 2025 schedule includes 14 regular-season games, with home contests at the La Plata campus fostering community engagement. Last season, the team finished 8-7-1, and returners like midfielder Nelson Acevedo Jr. provide experience. CSM emphasizes academic success alongside athletics, with student-athletes recognized for classroom achievements, such as in the annual awards where male athletes are honored for balancing sports and studies.
The tie keeps Southern Maryland winless but adds a point in conference play. The Hawks next host Carroll Community College on September 4 at 2 p.m., followed by a road game at Frederick Community College on September 9. Anne Arundel travels to Prince George’s Community College on September 4 at 6 p.m., then hosts WVU Potomac State College on September 9. In junior college soccer, programs like CSM focus on development, with many players transferring to four-year schools after gaining experience in NJCAA Division II competition. The Hawks’ early-season resilience, including the draw against Cape Fear and now Anne Arundel, signals potential for improvement as the schedule progresses.
