ASTON, Pa. - The Neumann University men's soccer team made history on Saturday afternoon, picking up Neumann's first ever Atlantic East Conference Championship with a 3-1 victory over Cabrini University.
 
Gavin Ford led the way for Neumann with a pair of assists on the afternoon on his way to MVP honors. The Knights also received goals from Marlon Trejo, Ainsley Reid and Nick Testa on the day, while Shane Smith picked up the win in goal with five saves.
 
The Knights saved one of their best performances of the season for when it mattered most. The opening half of play was a master class of possession for Neumann, as the team had its way with Cabrini and dominated the game's opening 45 minutes from the first whistle. The hosts used that possession to set up two early goals that would set the tone for the remainder of the game.
 
Trejo opened the scoring with a brilliant individual effort on the right flank. The sophomore midfielder beat a Cabrini defender with some crafty dribbling, turned toward goal and floated a perfectly executed chip over the Cabrini keeper's head and into the left side netting to put the Knights up 1-0.
 
Neumann wasn't finished though, scoring just over seven minutes later to double its lead in quick succession. Ford played the role of playmaker on the goal, bursting by a Cabrini defender again on the right flank before serving a ball to the back post for Reid to head home to make it 2-0 Knights heading to halftime. The goal marked Reid's fourth consecutive game-winning goal for Neumann.
 
Cabrini came out much stronger to start the second half, but the Knights had an answer for every Cavalier attempt until late in regulation. With just over ten minutes left to play a Neumann player was whistled for a hand-ball inside the box to give Cabrini a penalty kick. The visitors converted the spot kick to make things interesting at 2-1, but it would be the last chance of the game for the Cavaliers.
 
Neumann dug deep the final ten minutes of play and would not be denied of their first conference championship in four years. With Cabrini pressing forward for an equalizer, the Knights hit on the counter with just 4:15 left in regulation to seal the team's first ever Atlantic East title. Ford again set up the goal, deftly saving a ball on the touch-line at midfield before slotting a perfect through-ball a streaking Testa for a breakaway. The sophomore forward took a touch forward into the box and deposited the ball into the left side netting to clinch the win and send the stands into pandemonium celebrating the school's first ever Atlantic East Conference Championship.
 
Neumann finishes the season with a record of 11-4-2 and will await word of a possible postseason berth on Monday afternoon.