Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

UCCS Athletics

MSOC NCAA Third Round Preview

PREVIEW | Men’s Soccer Continues NCAA Tournament Push With Third Round Match at No. 3 Seed Point Loma

11/28/2025 8:00:00 AM

By: Tyler Tvelia, Sports Information Director
THIS WEEK'S MATCHUP
  • After knocking off No. 2 seed California State Dominguez Hills University in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last weekend, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's soccer team is set to continue their playoff push in the third round of the championship with a matchup against No. 3 seed Point Loma Nazarene University on Saturday, Nov. 29. The Mountain Lions' third round matchup against the Sea Lions is scheduled to kick off at 2 p.m. (MT) at PLNU Soccer Field in San Diego, Calif.
  • The winner of Saturday's matchup between UCCS and Point Loma will advance to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament to take on the winner of Sunday's third round clash between No. 1 seed California State University Stanislaus and No. 4 seed Midwestern State University. Sunday's match between the Warriors and the Mustangs will kick off at 4 p.m. (MT).
GAME COVERAGE TICKETS
  • All fans will be charged admission and are encouraged to pre-purchase tickets online.
  • Ticket Prices:
    • General Admission - $10.00
    • College Student w/valid student I.D. - $5.00
LAST TIME OUT
  • The Mountain Lions' second round matchup against Cal State Dominguez Hills started off in favor of the home team as the Toros found the back of the net in the 14th minute for an early 1-0 lead. Sporting one of the top defensive units in the nation, CSUDH managed to maintain their one-goal lead for the next 45 minutes of game action, but in the Mountain Lions broke through with an equalizer in the 61st minute as Nick Walker scored his ninth goal of the season off an assist from Cole Wearner.
  • Less than two minutes later, Miles Seminario put the Mountain Lions into another strong scoring situation as he unleashed one of his signature long throw-ins into the box. On the throw-in, Luke Noameshie was able to get a head on the ball and redirected it towards Rory Scott, who received it and finished for the go-ahead goal as UCCS took a 2-1 lead.
  • UCCS found success on a throw-in once again in the 68th minute as Wearner tossed the ball from the boundary to the outskirts of the box, where Noameshie was again able to use his head to redirect the ball towards Scott. The Mountain Lions' senior defender collected the ball and put it into the back of the net for his second goal of the game, giving UCCS a 3-1 lead with about 20 minutes to play.
  • Following the Mountain Lions third goal, Cal State Dominguez Hills went into a frenzy on the offensive side of the ball as they searched for a pair of goals to remain in the game. The Toros put plenty of pressure on the Mountain Lion defense down the stretch as they notched 10 total shots and two shots on goal in the remaining minutes of the match, but UCCS held strong to secure the 3-1 victory and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
  • A full recap of the Mountain Lions' NCAA Second Round matchup against the Toros can be found HERE.
 
UNITED SOCCER COACHES NATIONAL RANKINGS
  • The Mountain Lions opened the 2025 campaign ranked No. 17 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll and found themselves in and out of the rankings throughout the season. UCCS landed at No. 19 in the final two publications of the national poll that were released on Nov. 4 and 11.
  • No. 3 seeded Point Loma began the 2025 season just outside of the top 25 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll and remained out of the rankings until Week 6 when they vaulted to No. 11. The Sea Lions remained inside the top 25 for the remainder of the season and finished the year as the No. 16 ranked team in the final two publications of the national poll.
2025 United Soccer Coaches Rankings
Preseason           July 31              #17
Week 1                Sept. 9              NR
Week 2                Sept. 16            NR
Week 3                Sept. 23            NR
Week 4                Sept. 30            NR
Week 5                Oct.   7              NR
Week 6                Oct. 14              #22
Week 7                Oct. 21              RV
Week 8                Oct. 28              NR
Week 9                Nov. 4                #19
Week 10              Nov. 11              #19
 
RMAC AWARDS
  • The UCCS men's soccer program had five student-athletes combine for a total of nine weekly conference awards throughout the 2025 campaign.
    • Week 1 (Sept. 9): Nick Walker – RMAC Offensive Player of the Week
      Week 4 (Sept. 30): Maddox Brown – RMAC Defensive Player of the Week
      Week 5 (Oct. 7): Miles Seminario – RMAC Offensive Player of the Week
      Week 5 (Oct. 7): Hugo Sjöberg – RMAC Goalkeeper of the Week
      Week 6 (Oct. 14): Nick Walker – RMAC Offensive Player of the Week
      Week 6 (Oct. 14): Luke Noameshie – RMAC Defensive Player of the Week
      Week 6 (Oct. 14): Hugo Sjöberg – RMAC Goalkeeper of the Week
      Week 8 (Oct. 28): Luke Noameshie – RMAC Defensive Player of the Week
      Week 8 (Oct. 28): Hugo Sjöberg – RMAC Goalkeeper of the Week
  • The conference office announced their all-conference teams and individual major awards for the 2025 men's soccer season on Thursday, Nov. 13. Sophomore Luke Noameshie headlined a group of six Mountain Lion honorees as he earned All-RMAC First Team honors and was voted as the RMAC Defensive Player of the Year. In addition to Noameshie's accolades, Miles Seminario and Nick Walker were also named to the All-RMAC First Team while Dimitrios Leonoglou, Soulo Letsoalo, and Hugo Sjöberg were each tabbed to the All-RMAC Second Team.
  • UCCS had six student-athletes named to the RMAC All-Tournament team following their championship game victory over MSU Denver with Jack Cook securing Tournament MVP honors and Luke Noameshie, Miles Seminario, Eduardo Macias, Hugo Sjöberg, and Cole Wearner also being recognized.
  • Three Mountain Lions collected Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-South Central Region accolades on Tuesday, Nov. 25 with Luke Noameshie and Miles Seminario both landing first team honors and Nick Walker collecting second team honors.
  • The RMAC All-Academic Teams were revealed at noon on Friday, Nov. 14 as senior Nick Walker headlined a group of nine student-athletes from the UCCS men's soccer team that earned academic recognition from the conference. Walker became the first UCCS men's soccer student-athlete in program history to earn RMAC Men's Soccer Academic Player of the Year honors. Along with teammate Miles Seminario, Walker was also honored as a member of the RMAC All-Academic First Team, while Sean Belzer, Dimitrios Leonoglou, Jordan Lohr, Diego Macias, Eduardo Macias, Rory Scott, and Dalton Uehling were listed on the Honor Roll.
  • In addition to their RMAC All-Academic First Team selection, Seminario and Walker were also recognized on the 2025 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Men's Soccer Academic All-District Teams.
STATISTICAL LEADERS
  • UCCS currently holds the fifth-ranked scoring defense in the RMAC as they have allowed 1.32 goals per game with 29 goals surrendered in 22 games played. The Mountain Lions have given up an average of 12.7 total shots per game with just 4.18 of those being on frame.
  • The Mountain Lions' stout defensive unit has been led by a stellar backline composed of the RMAC Defensive Player of the Year in Luke Noameshie and seniors Rory Scott and Dimitrios Leonoglou. Noameshie ranks second among all Mountain Lion field players with 1,549 minutes played, while Scott (985) and Leonoglou (1,148) both contributed significant minutes. Senior Soulo Letsoalo and freshman Maddox Brown have each logged more than 1,300 minutes for the Mountain Lions as strong wing defenders, while sophomore Sean Belzer has come on strong late in the season, drawing the start in five of the team's last six games while recording a pair of assists.
  • Hugo Sjöberg has been a mainstay at goalkeeper for the Mountain Lions throughout the campaign as he has played each of the team's 2,000 minutes while notching a 1.31 GAA with 61 saves and five clean sheets.
  • The Mountain Lions currently rank tied for second in the RMAC with 43 total goals on the season and are fifth in the conference with 1.96 goals scored per game. UCCS' offense has been firing on all cylinders as of late as they have averaged 2.78 goals per game across their past nine games and 2.75 goals per game in four games since the start of the RMAC Tournament on Nov. 12. The Mountain Lions currently lead the league in total shots (303) and corner kicks (120) while sitting fourth in the conference in total shots on goal (115).
  • UCCS' All-RMAC First Team duo of Miles Seminario and Nick Walker have carried the load for the Mountain Lions on the offensive side of the ball during the 2025 season as they have combined to score 19 of the team's 43 total goals. Seminario leads the team in every major offensive category as he has recorded 10 goals, four assists, 24 points, 49 shots, and 27 shots on goal. Walker paces the squad with his RMAC and NCAA Division II leading seven game-winning goals and sits second on the team with nine total goals, three assists, and 21 points.
  • Five additional Mountain Lion players have recorded multiple goals on the season, including Jack Cook (4), Rory Scott (3), Drew Sanchez (3), Eduardo Macias (2), and Cole Wearner (2).
SCOUTING POINT LOMA
  • Led by three-time reigning PacWest Coach of the Year Phil Wolf, the No. 3 seeded Sea Lions opened their 2025 campaign with an up-and-down start as they went 2-2-1 across their first five non-conference games of the season. After the inconsistent start, Point Loma flipped the switch and went on to win their final two non-conference games of the season before posting a 9-1 record in conference play to secure the PacWest Regular Season title. As the No. 1 seed in the PacWest Tournament, the Sea Lions earned a pair of dominant 4-1 victories over Fresno Pacific University and University of Hawaii Hilo to earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. As the No. 3 seed in the national tournament, the Sea Lions earned a first round bye and opened their playoff push last Saturday, Nov. 22 against California State University San Bernardino with a match that saw Point Loma advance past the Coyotes on PKs (3-2).  
  • Point Loma ranks as one of the most well-rounded statistical squads in NCAA Division II as they currently field the third-ranked scoring offense in the nation with 3.05 goals per game and the top-ranked defense in the PacWest with 1.15 goals allowed per game. In addition, the Sea Lions sit fifth in the country in goal differential with a mark of plus-38.
  • The Sea Lions' dominant offensive efforts have been keyed by the All-PacWest forward trio of Emmett Layman, Cole Friesen, and Elijah Langford, who have each netted double digit goal totals on the season. Friesen currently leads the Sea Lions with 37 points off 14 goals and nine assists, while Layman has accrued 34 points with 15 goals and four assists and Langford has tallied 23 points off 11 goals and one assist. Point Loma has also received big contributions on the offensive end of the ball from midfielder Inaki Santamaria and forward Zack Mercieca with Santamaria notching 18 points with four goals and 10 assists and Mercieca posting 16 points off four goals and eight assists.
  • On the defensive side of the ball, Point Loma is led by a pair of All-PacWest First Team selections in defender Ryan Doyle and defensive midfielder Gael Ruiz. Ruiz ranks second among all PLNU players with 1,620 minutes of action on the season while Doyle has recorded 1,330 minutes on the pitch during his junior season. The Sea Lions also had a pair of sophomore defenders earn All-PacWest Third Team accolades, including Shawn O'Brien and Zion Yeboah.
  • Sophomore Jeremy Caringella served as the primary netminder for the Sea Lions during the 2025 campaign, posting a 1.08 GAA with 44 saves across nearly 1,249 minutes of action. Freshman Gonzalo Gurrola, however, started in frame for the Sea Lions during the PacWest Championship match and their first NCAA Tournament match against CSUSB and has posted a 1.42 GAA in 380 minutes played across four games between the sticks.
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
  • Saturday's matchup will feature a pair of teams that are making their first ever appearances in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. It will also mark the first all-time meeting between the two squads.
  • The 2025 season has already been a historic one as the Mountain Lions have secured the first conference regular season and tournament titles in program history in addition to picking up their first two NCAA Tournament victories.
  • With at least one game left to play this season, the 2025 Mountain Lions have already begun to etch their name in the record book for multiple single-season statistics as they currently sit tied for the most assists in a season with 34 and have posted the second-most points (120) and fourth-most goals (43) in a single season in program history.
  • A fourth-year member of the UCCS men's soccer program, Miles Seminario has engraved his name into the top 10 in program history in multiple statistical categories during his senior season. With his playoff appearances, he has taken over as the program's all-time leader in games played with 84 in his career. Seminario also currently ranks second all-time in career shot on goal percentage (.500), fifth all-time in shots on goal (62), and 10th all-time in total shots (124). 
  • With his NCAA Division II and RMAC leading seven game-winning goals on the season, Walker now has nine game-winning goals in his two-year career at UCCS which ranks as the second-most by any player in program history.
  • With his 110-minute performance in Friday's first round matchup against Cal State LA, goalkeeper Hugo Sjöberg set a new program record for total minutes played in a single season. After Sunday's 90-minute showing against CSUDH, he has now played all 2,000 minutes between the sticks for the Mountain Lions this year.
UCCS UNDER HEAD COACH LEWIS WILCOX
  • Head coach Lewis Wilcox is currently in his fifth season at the helm of the UCCS men's soccer program and has posted an exceptional 55-27-19 overall record. Under the leadership of Wilcox, the men's soccer program has reached new heights as they have qualified for the NCAA Tournament in three consecutive seasons and recently brought home the program's first conference regular season and tournament titles.
  • Across his first four seasons at the helm of the men's soccer program, Wilcox led the Mountain Lions to a 43-22-14 overall record while coaching the team to a trio of RMAC Semifinal appearances and the program's first two selections to the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournament. Under his guidance, UCCS student-athletes have collected 25 All-RMAC honors, including 11 first team accolades, 11 second team selections, and three honorable mentions. In addition, Wilcox has coached four RMAC major award winners, including the 2021 RMAC Player of the Year in Alex Andersson, the 2022 Co-Freshman of the Year in Matteo Moreno Madrid, the 2024 Goalkeeper of the Year in Soren Russell, and the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year in Luke Noameshie.
  • The Mountain Lions have been well-represented at the regional and national levels during his time at the head of the program, securing 10 D2CCA All-Region honors, three United Soccer Coaches All-Region accolades, and two D2CCA All-Americans (Alex Andersson – 2021 First Team, Dani Barajas - 2024 Second Team).
  • In addition, UCCS men's soccer has flourished academically with the leadership of Wilcox, securing eight RMAC All-Academic First Team honors, seven College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District accolades, and two CSC Academic All-America award (Kolby Raineri – 2022 Third Team, Miles Seminario - 2024 Second Team). In addition, Nick Walker was named the 2025 RMAC Men's Soccer Academic Player of the Year under the tutelage of Wilcox.
WEATHER
  • Saturday afternoon's forecast for San Diego, Calif., calls for sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-60s.
UP NEXT
  • The winner of Sunday's matchup between the Mountain Lions and Sea Lions will advance to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament to take on the winner of Sunday's matchup featuring No. 1 seed Stanislaus State and No. 4 seed Midwestern State. The time and location of the quarterfinal match will be determined based on the results from this weekend's third round games.
 
For everything UCCS Athletics, follow the Mountain Lions on social media and stay tuned to gomountainlions.com.
 
SOCIAL
Twitter – @GoMountainLions
Instagram – @gomountainlions
Facebook – GoMountainLions
 
Print Friendly Version