NORTH EAST, Md. — The College of Southern Maryland men’s soccer team travels to Cecil College on September 11, 2025, for a 4 p.m. matchup against the host Seahawks in a Maryland JUCO Conference contest at the top of the Chesapeake Bay. This “battle of the birds” pits the Hawks, with a 2-1-3 overall record and 1-1-2 in conference play, against the Seahawks, who stand at 2-2 overall and 2-1 in conference. Both teams compete in NJCAA Division II Region 20, where early-season results influence tournament seeding for the postseason in late November.
The game will be streamed live on YouTube via Cecil College Athletics’ channel. Live statistics are available through Cecil’s athletics site. Tickets are not required for this non-ticketed event, and no audio broadcast is provided.
Since joining the conference in 2012, the Hawks hold an 8-1-1 series advantage over Cecil, winning 85 percent of encounters. The most recent meeting on August 27, 2024, at CSM’s Soccer Field in La Plata ended in a 6-1 victory for Cecil, snapping the Hawks’ streak and marking the Seahawks’ first win in the rivalry since 2012. Southern Maryland’s last triumph came on October 12, 2023, with a 3-1 scoreline. Cecil enters on a one-game winning streak against the Hawks dating to that 2024 result, while the Hawks seek to reclaim dominance in a series that has featured competitive play along the Maryland-Delaware border.
Under first-year head coach Nick Porovne, appointed in January 2025 after serving as an assistant since spring 2022, the Hawks aim to rebound from a 2-9-2 record in 2024 that included early ties and a win over Carroll Community College. The 2025 roster blends eight returning sophomores with a large freshman class, emphasizing local talent from Southern Maryland high schools in Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties. Goalkeeper Brandon Rollins from Indian Head returns after starting all 11 games last season, recording 122 saves at a 74.4 percent rate despite a 5.29 goals-against average. Freshman goalkeeper Matthew Knapp, a La Plata High School graduate who scored 11 goals as a senior, has already notched a shutout in the season opener, a 0-0 tie against Cape Fear Community College on August 24 at home.
The Hawks’ schedule includes 14 regular-season games, starting with a road loss at Howard Community College on August 26, followed by the Cape Fear tie and a 2-2 draw against Anne Arundel Community College on September 2 at Siegert Field. In that game, Southern Maryland led 2-0 at halftime but allowed two second-half goals, with goalkeeper Rollins making 11 saves. Upcoming matches feature a home game against Carroll on September 4 at 2 p.m. and a road contest at Frederick Community College on September 9. Key returners include midfielder Donovan Dean from Chopticon High School in Leonardtown and midfielder Henri Mietchop from North Point High School, who bring local experience to the midfield. Freshmen like Nelson Acevedo Jr. and forwards Aydyn Meaders, Hayden Miller and Marvin Bates-Williams contributed shots in the opener, signaling offensive potential under Porovne’s focus on defensive solidity and quick transitions.
Cecil College, located in North East near the Elk River, fields its Seahawks in the same conference, drawing players from Cecil County and surrounding areas. Head coach Keith Prevost leads the program, which finished 7-9 overall in 2024 with a 4-6 conference mark. The 2025 schedule for Cecil includes 16 games, beginning with a scrimmage against Harrisburg Area Community College on August 12 and an away win at Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland on August 19. The Seahawks posted a 2-1 conference win over an opponent on September 4 before a non-conference loss, contributing to their current 2-2 record and a one-game losing streak. Home record stands at 1-1, with away at 1-1.
The September 11 game marks Cecil’s fourth home contest, following a win over Rowan College South Jersey-Gloucester on August 21. Upcoming for the Seahawks are a road game at Manor College on September 13 and a home matchup against Prince George’s Community College on September 16. While specific 2025 roster details for Cecil are limited, the program relies on regional recruits, with past standouts like Jannis Braun and Izak Battle Jr. contributing multiple goals in the 2024 win over Southern Maryland. Prevost’s strategy emphasizes balanced play, as seen in Cecil’s recent conference successes, including a 2-1 record entering this matchup.
In NJCAA Region 20 Division II men’s soccer, the Maryland JUCO Conference determines seeding for the four-team tournament typically held in late October or early November at a neutral site like Harford Community College. Howard Community College leads the standings at 3-0 as of early September, followed by Cecil at 2-1, with Southern Maryland at 1-1-2. The Hawks’ undefeated streak against Cecil since 2012 provides motivation, but the 2024 loss highlights the need for improved finishing, as Southern Maryland managed only one goal in that game despite opportunities. Region 20 rules require teams to complete a minimum number of games for eligibility, with ties factored into point calculations for seeding.
Southern Maryland’s program, based at the La Plata campus, serves as a pipeline for local athletes transitioning from high schools like La Plata, Chopticon and Northern to four-year colleges. The Hawks’ 2023 season saw 51 goals across 19 games at a 2.68 average, contrasting with 2024’s struggles, but Porovne’s emphasis on youth development aims to restore that scoring punch. Matches like this one against Cecil, just a two-hour drive north via Routes 301 and 95, allow Southern Maryland fans to support the team at a venue overlooking the bay, fostering regional rivalries in junior college athletics.
Cecil’s campus in North East, part of Cecil County’s community college system, hosts games on fields that accommodate standard 90-minute matches with two 45-minute halves under NJCAA guidelines. The Seahawks’ conference schedule includes tough tests against Harford on October 2 and Anne Arundel on October 14, positioning the September 11 game as a key early indicator for both teams’ postseason hopes. In Region 20, the top two conference teams advance automatically, with at-large bids based on overall records and strength of schedule.
For Southern Maryland residents, the Hawks’ travel to Cecil represents an opportunity to follow NJCAA soccer, a sport that emphasizes skill development without athletic scholarships in Division II. The program’s history includes Region 20 titles in 1994, 1995 and 2008, the last under previous coaching, motivating the 2025 squad to end a 17-year drought. Viewers can tune into the YouTube stream for real-time action, while live stats track shots, saves and corners to gauge momentum shifts.
This matchup underscores the competitive nature of Maryland JUCO soccer, where teams like Southern Maryland and Cecil vie for limited tournament spots amid balanced schedules. The Hawks’ series lead suggests familiarity, but Cecil’s recent win adds intrigue, setting the stage for a pivotal conference test in North East.
