The aspirations to claim the NJCAA Division II National Championship came up just short on Saturday evening for the Panthers, falling 1-0 to Prairie State.
They were matched up in an All-Skyway national title game against Prairie State. After having knocked them off twice earlier in the year, the third time was the toughest test they saw all season.
The Panthers won on September 13th in a 4-3 final in regulation. They then followed that up with a 2-1 overtime victory to claim the Region IV Championship on a Rafael Silverio golden goal.
The lone goal in the national title game matchup was a score by Joshua Matiscik. It was on a loose ball that the Panthers were unable to corral in the second half at the 73:32 mark.
The game was at a stalemate where defenders dominated and did not allow much breathing room for any of the premier scorers to get shots on either goalkeeper.
The Panthers had a final gasp in the closing seconds from a Matheus Milani header, who scored on Friday night to start the momentum toward victory.
Following the missed header, a few Panthers nearly followed it up with a goal, but the shots were deflected by Prairie State defenders as the clock expired. A fourth comeback was nearly complete in favor of the Panthers.
Among expected returning starters for next season, goalkeeper Gabriel Moreira will be one of the top returning stars. The other three include Bachir Bouamama, Andreas Sanches, and Juan Sanchez.
Moreira was one of three players that were named to the All-Tournament Team in Tucson. The others included Luis Escalante, who kicked the game-winner in the National Semifinals during the 2-1 victory over CCBC Essex.
It was the fourth game-winner of the season for Escalante, who was simply sensational during the 2022 campaign.
"This is the best season I had in my life and I enjoyed every single day of it. I couldn't ask for a better team and a better family. I'm proud of each one of my teammates and it's an honor for me to be part of the team," said Escalante.
Finishing second on the Panthers in goals, Escalante was a star in dozens of moments throughout the season. The ability to win games with hustle, grit, and skills was a joy to watch for all that follow the No. 4 ranked Panthers.
Escalante had magic when he put a charge on the ball and his golden goal over CCBC Essex could have been one of the best moments in Panther history. If you blinked, you likely missed the shot. That is how quickly Escalante can attack opposing defenses and making the All-Tournament team was well deserved.
"My favorite moment in this season was the National Semifinal. It was a beautiful moment for all of us. The feeling that we had in that game was something that we will remember for the rest of our lives. My favorite moment was in Nationals, the game-winner against Essex, I cannot put into words the feeling of that moment. It was something magical," said Escalante.
The Panther teammates enjoyed their winning moments together. The family loved playing for one another and didn't care who made the play as long as it was made. The victories piled up into a school-record 19 in a row.
"My favorite moment was when we beat Prairie State in the Regional IV Championship because, at that moment, our dream (go to Nationals) was coming true. At Nationals, a memory that I'll bring remember is when we beat Essex in the semifinals, what a brilliant goal by Luis," said Andreas Sanches.
Some players on the squad didn't think of one specific moment, but rather a collection of them. The family comradery and the moments shared together in the locker room, during practices, and even postgame meals were celebrated.
"I couldn't be more proud of our team. I had some of the best moments of my life with these guys. It was an honor to be part of the team and this was a season that I will never forget," said Moreira.
Joao Rosito was also an All-Tournament selection, who connected on two magical goals against Pima on Wednesday night. The ability to go top shelf with spin helped lead the Panthers to a monumental victory.
All three players were more than worthy of being selected for the All-Tournament squad. While they did not reach their end goal on the season, they accomplished so many achievements that most teams across the country could only dream of.
They set the program record for most consecutive wins with 19. They also ended their season as Skyway and Region IV champions. The 19-1-1 campaign saw them in the Top 10 for the majority of the season. The team had a family-like bond and enjoyed every game like it was their last.
Appearing in their first-ever National Semifinals and National Championship was incredible to witness in Tucson for all in attendance. All of Panther nation couldn't be more proud of a squad that continued gaining confidence after every victory.
"I love this team because we became a family! The best part of winning was sharing all of the success with my teammates," said Moreira.
For all the victory celebrations, this team enjoyed traveling everywhere together. The trip to Tucson was an experience that was a new experience for many players.
"I will look back at every memory that I have made here in these past two years at Morton College, it was one of the greatest chapters of my life. I will never forget the week at Nationals because it was unbelievable and amazing. I just would like to thank all of my teammates for everything, it was an honor to be a part of this team," said Escalante.
The stories won't stop from this historic 2022 season. There are plenty of other players that will discuss their magical ride this past season. Thanks for following us along the Panthers' trip to Tucson, there are still more stories and memories to share. Stay locked at GoMCPanthers.com and on Twitter @McAthletics1924 for all updates on Panther athletics.
