More than 50 fans cheered on the Riverhawks at Thursday night’s men’s soccer game at Siegert Field.

Some of them were members of the college’s Black Male Institute. Student Government Association President Jayeim Blake, a group the second-year kinesiology student invited so its members could get together at a home game and show their support for the team.

AACC lost 4-2 to Frederick Community College.

“Many of our athletes [also] identify as black males,” Rayna Simon, the AACC’s Student Achievement and Success Program director, said. “Our goal is to have more touch points with students, specifically targeting the engagement of our black male student population.”

Blake, a goalkeeper for the Riverhawks, said he invited the BMI not just to show support for him, but for every member of the soccer team.

“They’re not just here for me, they’re here for the whole team,” Blake said. “That’s how supportive they are … as an organization.”

According to Kenneth Gilliard, the college’s student success and retention adviser, this is the first time SASP formally partnered with AACC Athletics to host an event involving a sports team.

“This is one of those ideas that came from the students wanting to have a social event,” Gilliard said.

Simon agreed, adding this was the first opportunity of the semester for BMI to attend a game.

“We’ve decided to make this one of our first initiatives,” Simon said. “This [event] allows us to really just have a little bit of fun with the students and let them know we’re here to also have fun with them.”

Nathaniel Wofford, a third-year public health student, said he came for the BMI.

“It’s been a while since I’ve watched the games,” Wofford said. “I hope we get more games with nice weather like this.”

Third-year mechatronics student Abdoulaye Barry said it’s good for BMI to come out and support the men’s soccer team.

“If you want people to support you, you got to show support too,” Barry said. “It’s always good to put yourself out there.”

Still, Amari Moffitt, a first-year business management student, said he was “a little upset” by the performance of the men’s soccer team.

“They just got to step up their hustle,” Moffitt said.

Barry agreed, saying, “I feel like it could have been better.”

Reporter Micah Rhymer contributed to this story