The men’s soccer team won its second consecutive Atlantic East Conference championship in the fall of 2024. After finishing the regular season with a record of 8-6-4 (5-1 in conference) and the #2 seed in the conference tournament, they earned a return trip to the NCAAs by defeating Immaculata, 1-0, in the semifinals and Marymount, 3-1, in the title match.

Back-to-back championships, of course, are clear indications of excellent athletic talent and coaching. But what are the other ingredients of a dominant squad? What creates the chemistry and brotherhood that winning teams always develop?

Dominic Petruzzelli, a junior who transferred to Neumann when Cabrini University closed, points to a night of reflection that was organized by Sr. Marguerite O’Beirne and Sr. Linda DeCero. “We had been going through a rough patch,” he recalls, “and we needed to get our footing before conference play started.”

The Sisters arranged dinner for the team and worked with Petruzzelli and teammate Vince Landis to formulate questions and prompts to help the team get to know each other more deeply. On the night of the reflection, the Sisters dropped by to wish the team luck and then departed.

“We thought they were going to be in the room with us,” says Petruzzelli, “and they just left.”

The strategy worked. “That night was the turning point of our season,” Petruzzelli admits. “There were chills, tears, and laughter. We played FDU that week, had a top-tier performance, and won in the 88th minute. Everything aligned. We had five transfers from Cabrini and seven freshmen, and that night of reflection helped us get closer.”

For Carter Gorczyca, a freshman from South Carolina, the realization that he had found a home at Neumann was more unsettling than sharing stories during an evening of reflection.

“I had a pretty severe concussion during a Saturday practice,” he remembers. “I was transferred to the hospital but off the field I got a ton of support from all my teammates. They prayed for me and guys came to the hospital to check on me. That made me feel like I was truly supposed to be here, that I had built such a great family here.”

Sophomore Landon Moroney agrees that Gorczyca’s injury was a turning point for the team.

“Everybody went to the hospital to check on him. He was only there for a couple of hours,” says Moroney, “but that really brought us together and we found our stride. It made us realize that we’re here to play soccer, but at the end of the day, we’re here for each other.”

All three players have experiences that are seared into their memories, images that they are certain will stay with them for decades.

Moroney recalls winning both titles, of course. But he also vividly remembers traveling to NCAA tournament games, staying in a hotel with the team, and just being around his teammates for a couple days. “We stayed in the same hallway, and everybody’s door was open the entire time.”

For Petruzzelli, the unforgettable moment occurred at this year’s trophy presentation after the team had clinched the Atlantic East crown.

“Coach [Erik] Temple decided to let the five Cabrini guys accept the trophy and that was just a class act. We had accepted the second-place trophy a year earlier on Neumann’s field.”

Gorczyca’s unshakable memory is about a devastating loss at home to Marymount.

“We had a huge build-up to that game. A ton of students came out to support us, and we had a blow-up tunnel that we ran through with smoke and music. To lose that game and have Marymount run over to our student section, gesturing, made me determined to work harder.”

Payback for Marymount, of course, came in the title match.

Petruzzelli, Gorczyca and Moroney all picture themselves maintaining close friendships with teammates long after they graduate.

“They’ll be at my wedding, honestly,” chuckles Petruzzelli, smiling at the prospect. “In my grade, there are 12 of us. We just had a Friendsgiving celebration at my off-campus house. Eleven months ago [at Cabrini], I would never have pictured this. We’re going to have it next year and the year after that until we have our weddings and have kids. Then we’ll come back to tailgate at Neumann.”