Best of 2024: #1 Men's Soccer's Season to Remember

ATHENS, W.Va. – During the holiday season, the Concord University Sports Information Department will be unveiling the top moments, games and storylines from the past year in Concord Athletics in countdown form.

From the top games, All-American recognition, NCAA Tournament appearances and more we hope you enjoy a look back at Concord Athletics over the last 365 days.

The final day of the countdown goes in depth on the historical and unforgettable season for Concord men's soccer.

As recent as two seasons ago, the Mountain Lion men's soccer program went 4-12-2. Enter new coach Alex Smith into the equation. In Smith's first year, Concord sported a mark of 8-5-7 and made the conference tournament for the first time in more than 20 years in 2023.

CU was able to use the success from last fall in forging a path for the history-making 2024 squad.

The Mountain Lions started the season 4-0-1 and earned their first national ranking in program history as they checked into the polls in 15^th during the last week of September.

After a bumpy finish to month of September—going 0-2-1—Concord got back on track in more ways than one. The Maroon and Gray rattled off 11 consecutive wins that ran from October 6 through November 13. Along the way, CU knocked off nationally-ranked, second-rated Charleston at home for the first victory in program history over the Golden Eagles, in 40 tries.

The final win in the streak was an MEC Semifinal victory over Davis & Elkins in the highest scoring MEC Tournament game in history—Concord outlasted the Senators, 6-4. And the win over D&E all but assured the Mountain Lions of their first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.

When the bracket was officially announced on November 18, CU found itself paired with New Haven in the opening round of the national tournament.

Down 2-1 late in the game, Richard Henry's free-kick goal sent the game to overtime. After 20 minutes of no scoring, the contest went to penalty kicks where Julian Correa's kick from the spot from was the decider in a 4-2 penalty shootout win.

The 15 wins by Concord set a single-season program record, breaking the mark of 13 wins by the 2001 team. Led by all-region selections Syrus Conolly (12 goals) and Malher Santi Possu (10 goals), CU scored 57 goals this fall which were the second most in program history.

And Kai Forsyth became the first two-time all-region player in program history.