NOV 21, 2024 | SPORTS | By Lilly Asano
With three minutes remaining in overtime, the score read 1-1. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps player Rafael Otero snuck past three Colorado College Tigers inside the box and found an opening, sending the ball between the Tiger defenders and out of CC goalkeeper’s reach. The hill above Stewart Field fell quiet. Otero caught the Tigers unprepared, and they paid the price.
The Tigers’ storybook season was over.
On Sunday, Nov. 17, Colorado College’s men’s soccer fell from the national tournament to the
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags 2-1 in sudden death overtime. After securing their place in the 2024 NCAA Division III National Tournament on Nov. 11, they welcomed Pacific Lutheran University, Oglethorpe University and CMS to the Olympic City and Stewart Field as first and second-round tournament hosts.
“The guys created a wonderful memory today. It’s not often that you get the opportunity to compete in the national tournament on your home soil,” Scott Palguta, head coach, said following their game on Nov. 16 in a live-streamed press conference. “And knowing that it’s been so long, who knows when the next opportunity might come after tomorrow?”
The Tigers entered this year’s national tournaments hoping to avenge last year’s Elite Eight finish. They made an Elite Eight run, but Washington and Lee University knocked them from the tournament in the quarter-finals last year.
The Tigers opened the weekend with the Pacific Lutheran University Lutes on Saturday, Nov. 15, defeating the Lutes 3-1. Curtis Hale ‘25 and Jack Hilliard ‘27 led the Tigers to the second round and past the Lutes. Hale placed the Tigers on the board at 18:23 in the first half, assisted by midfielder Hilliard.
The Lutes tied the game four seconds into the second half, but Hilliard eventually closed the game for the Tigers. The All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference second-team honoree reestablished the Tigers’ lead nine minutes later and at 81:47, placed the Tigers two goals ahead with nine minutes remaining. Rex Karijan ‘26, Owen Lewis ‘27 and Teddy Opler ‘28 logged assists for Hilliard’s goals.
“We were reminding the guys last night and every chance we got that it’s always about the team,” Scott Palguta said in the Nov. 16 press conference. “It’s always about the next man up.”
Oliver Ramirez ‘26 scored the Tigers’s lone Sunday goal, assisted by both Hale and Hilliard. The goal followed the Stags’ early lead, which wouldn’t be reestablished until they claimed overtime victory.
The Tigers continue their 2024 dominance off the field. Six players were recognized as College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team members for maintaining a 3.50 GPA and must start or play in at least half of their scheduled games.
The Tigers were a DIII powerhouse all season, both in conference play and against non-conference competitors. They earned the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference regular-season title, and head coach Scott Palguta was honored as the 2024 SCAC Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year. Hale was named SCAC Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Year for the third year in a row, clinching the award for the final time in his collegiate career.
Hale, Wolter and Alexander Ward ‘25 were named to the All-SCAC first team, while Ramirez, Karijan, Hilliard, Will Bavier ‘25 and Wyatt Linggi were appointed to the second team. Linggi, a freshman and second-team member last year, led the team with 18 points, followed by Ward, Ramirez and Hilliard with 15.
Opler joined the All-SCAC Freshman Team after playing in all 22 games and leading the freshmen with 12 points. Charlie Wagner ‘25, Vincent Luglio ‘25 and Dylan Stapley ‘27 were honorable mentions.
After reaching No. 3, their highest-ever program ranking, in the United Soccer Coaches poll on Sept. 17, the Tigers consistently stayed in the top seven spots and finished overall 16-3-3, including 15-1-3 in the regular season.
While they will lose their eight seniors’ deep leadership and field experience, Palguta and returning players will return next year with a vicious hunger for success as one of the top programs in the country.