AACC Men’s Soccer finished the 2019 season with a record of 9-7-1, improving from 7-8-1 last year.

Their performance on the field earned a third-place spot in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Region 20, behind Prince George’s Community College and Howard Community College.

“We had a really good group of guys that bonded on and off the field,” head coach Nick Cosentino said. “They were a tight-knit group, which I think helped them get through some tough times in the season.”

To end the regular season, Men’s Soccer secured the No. 4 seed in the Division III Region 20 Men’s Soccer tournament.

On Nov. 1, the men’s team hosted the top-seeded Howard Community College in the semifinals, where they lost 3-2.

“Howard was the big game,” said forward/midfielder Alex Calogero, a second-year public health student. “In the tournament this year and last year, it’s always a tough battle.”

Calogero led the team in points with 14 on the season, including six goals and two assists.

“Scoring was a real challenge for us,” Cosentino said, “and it was a testament to our defense that we did so well this year.”

“Half our team were first-year players …  and our sophomores really helped us this year,” Cosentino said. “Will Belcher helped out a lot with the leadership role. … Belcher is the grittiest player I’ve ever coached.”

Belcher, a midfielder and second-year transfer studies student, said he appreciated Cosentino’s comments.