Firebirds Soar to Historic Victory
“It was an amazing feeling, especially for us, like me. I’m a senior, and this is my last year that I’ll be playing soccer. Ever since I was four years old and the fact that we won the championship for the first time in our history in the last year, it was very rewarding,” said Ignacio Pericet, captain and four-year player for the men’s soccer team, when reflecting on how it felt to win the East Coast Conference finals.
After a roller coaster 2023 season where the Firebirds finished with a 6-7-7 record, they consistently displayed strong performances. While they never achieved outright dominance, this tenacious team fought for a trip to the ECC finals, where they faced Queens College. Despite beating the Knights 2-1 earlier in that season the Firebirds fell short 1-0 in the championship match. That loss was the chip on their shoulder that grew their hunger to win tenfold.
That following summer, UDC completed a significant project that improved athletics and its facilities. The University completed the construction of the athletic field that August, giving the Firebirds a home for the first time in years. The landscape of UDC sports shifted, giving the players a convenient practice location and a consistent place to host games they did not have in previous seasons. With the full support of the university, the possibilities are endless.
The Firebirds struggled to find themselves early after finishing as ECC finalists the previous season. They had lost six of their first nine games, including a devastating 3-0 loss against future finals opponent Molloy. However, after their loss to Queens College on Oct 2, a sudden resurgence changed everything.
Towards the middle of the season, the team realized there were changes to be made. They needed to adjust if they wanted to win games and have an opportunity to compete for a championship. Pericet stepped up as captain and addressed the team. They needed a new mindset, a more organized defense, and to stay unified on offense. While it was a difficult reality to face, these issues caused them to lose every game when scoring only one goal that season. Coach Matthew Thompson implemented a press defense and utilized their most experienced players to lead the Firebirds to the success they had longed for.
They went on to win seven of the next ten games, forcing their way to the playoffs. “We knew that there was quality and talent in the team, and towards the end of the season, we stepped up,” said Pericet.
Coming off a three-game win streak, the Firebirds came out blazing in the finals match with a goal in the third minute from star sophomore Ignacio Lopez on a free kick. The Molloy Lions responded in the 57th minute with a goal from Steph Maurice, creating a stalemate in the match leading into overtime. It came to an end after Tahir’s monumental goal in the 100th minute as the sixth-seeded Firebirds defeated the fifth-seeded Lions.
Lopez was named Most Outstanding Player of the ECC tournament after scoring three goals and dishing out two assists throughout the three games. The first of those goals came in a comeback victory in the quarterfinals against third-seed Roberts Wesleyan, where he also had the game-winning assist. The second goal was a game-winner against second-seeded Mercy University in the semifinals.
When asked what made this year’s team different from last season, Pericet described the struggle of losing 11 players and not knowing the team’s identity. There were questions about how they could compare to their success the previous season with a drastically different roster. However, coach Thompson devised a new, more team-oriented offensive formation and defensive tactics that ignited a fire within the team.
In a 2-1 overtime victory from a game-winning goal from Mustafa Tahir, the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) men’s soccer team etched their name in history by securing their first-ever East Coast Conference (ECC) championship on Nov. 17 against Molloy University. The Firebirds capped a remarkable turnaround season after an up-and-down season that started rough.
“Most people will look at soccer and they will say it’s more about talent, but it doesn’t matter how much talent you have; you need to work very hard and understand that you are playing a role in the team,” Pericet said. As captain, he played a vital role for the Firebirds, recognizing the importance of his leadership. As a high-energy, aggressive, supportive, and relentless player on the field, he was able to help his team achieve its greatest accomplishment in his final run. Early in his college career, he learned that he had to “earn the right to play,” as one of his former teammates would say. He understood that things would not be given to him and that only with hard work would he see progress.
The upperclassmen truly stepped into their roles as leaders on the road to victory. Pericet, the only player to start and play every game this season, was the team’s third-leading scorer with five goals and was named to the 2024 ECC All-Conference third team. Senior Santiago Gordillo Martinez, who also had six goals, was named to the ECC All-Conference second team, and junior Axel Gamez was named to the ECC All-Conference third team.
While the seniors played a significant role in leading this team to victory, the underclassmen were indispensable to the Firebirds. Lopez led the team with both goals and assists, with six each; he was named to the ECC All-Conference second team and Division II CCA All-East Region second team, making him the first UDC athlete to earn this honor.
“There has to be leadership, and it cannot just come from one or two guys or the captains. It has to be every single player on the team… Having the pride and having that commitment to represent the institution and the program is very important for future players that come and those that stay,” said Pericet, outlining how this team can maintain its dominance in the ECC. With the efforts of the coaches, hard work from the players, and the assistance of the athletic program, the potential is limitless. The role of each player who puts on a Firebird’s jersey is vital. Whether you are scoring and setting records, fostering a culture for the program, passing knowledge on to those coming behind you, or being a role model, your legacy will live on as a Firebird as the next generation cultivates its own. After an outstanding season, the future is bright for the UDC men’s soccer team.
