LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. – The Maryville men's soccer program capped off the CCS Tournament in unforgettable fashion, battling to a 1-1 draw before outlasting the Covenant Scots 6-5 in a dramatic penalty shootout to claim the 2025 CCS Championship.
The rivalry between Maryville and Covenant runs deep, especially in postseason play. Entering Saturday, the series stood deadlocked at 3-2. Covenant halted Maryville's tournament runs in 2014 (USA South Championship), 2022 (CCS Semifinals), and 2024 (CCS Semifinals). The Scots of Maryville, however, had also delivered their own triumphs: a 2-0 win in the 2014 USA South Championship, a 1-0 victory in the 2017 USA South Championship, and now the 2025 CCS title to tip the balance in their favor.
Maryville struck early when
Ben Brophy buried a finish just eight minutes in, thanks to a clean setup from
Brady Hammer. Covenant responded in the 22nd minute with the equalizer, and from there the match turned into a defensive chess match. Covenant attacked the goal with 24 shots, tripling Maryville's eight, yet neither side could break through again in regulation.
Then, chaos. With 15 seconds remaining and overtime looming, Covenant earned a penalty after a Maryville foul inside the box. The stadium fell silent as tension tightened across the mountain. When the whistle blew and Covenant stepped up to take what looked like the game-winner,
Tanner Ricks delivered the moment of the night, stretching to push the shot away and preserve Maryville's championship hopes. The crowd exploded, disbelief and relief crashing together as both teams regrouped for overtime.
In the first extra period, Maryville couldn't muster a shot while Covenant fired four. The second overtime saw the lone attempt come from Brophy, but Covenant kept it out. With no breakthrough after 110 minutes, the title came down to penalties.
Composure became currency.
Collin Combs,
Ethan Denney,
Will Brush, Brophy, and Hammer all converted to keep Maryville alive. Ricks, already the hero of regulation, made another massive save to swing momentum. That left freshman
Jonathan Case with a chance to end it. Under the brightest lights of his young career, Case stepped up and slotted his shot into the left side of the net, clinching the shootout, the match, and the 2025 CCS Championship for Maryville.
Maryville now turns its attention to the NCAA Division III Championship. The Scots travel to Farmville, Virginia, to face the Emory Eagles on Saturday, November 15th in the opening round.
