Ocelots lose in Regional final, end their National Championship dream

Team ends season with 15-4 record

Jean Leal, Staff Writer

November 5, 2025

The Schoolcraft Men’s Soccer team season comes to an end with a loss in the Region XII Championship on Nov. 2, 2025 in Marysville, Michigan to St. Clair CC 1-0.

The Schoolcraft College men’s soccer teams saw its season come to abrupt end after dropping the Region XII championship match to St. Clair CC, 1-0, on Nov. 2, 2025.

Just one day earlier, the Ocelots faced Cuyahoga CC in the semifinal matchup and dominated. In the regular season, the Ocelots had an initial setback against the Tri-C, but quickly stormed back securing an 8-3 victory. This time, the game was much more important with the Regional final on the line, and the level of concentration required was extremely high to guarantee a win.

It didn’t take long for Schoolcraft’s Luis Maldonado to open the scoring after a corner kick unassisted making it 1-0 at the 9:48 mark. However, the Tri-C did not retreat their lines and after a cross into the penalty area, Cuyahoga’s Stefan Trmcic scored a beautiful goal with a powerful long-range shot at 16:27 tying the game 1-1.

The Ocelots kept pressure and in the 24th minute, Kellen Larson extended the lead, 2-1, with a penalty kick.

To close the scoring late in the game and secure a place in the tournament final, DeVaughn Randle, in an individual play on the right, managed to enter the area, shoot, and benefit from a deflection that ended up beating the Tri-C goalkeeper. Final score 3-1 in favor of Schoolcraft securing a place in the championship final against St. Clair CC.

The quick turnaround led the Ocelots into the Nov. 2 title match against St. Clair CC—the only conference opponent to beat them during the regular season. Schoolcraft started the game in a different formation than usual, trying to surprise the Skippers and score an early goal, but unfortunately the strategy failed to produce the desired outcome.

The Skippers demonstrated greater offensive power, but the Ocelots showed extreme defensive consistency. A tough, difficult game that demanded concentration from both teams. With overtime looming, the decisive moment came in the 88th minute, when a Skippers corner kick found its way into the net. The late goal proved fatal to Schoolcraft’s hopes. The Ocelots mounted one last push in stoppage time but couldn’t find the equalizer, settling for a hard-fought second-place finish.

Despite the result, the team’s performance throughout the year was exceptional, finishing with 15 wins and only 4 losses, a record that solidified Schoolcraft as one of the top programs in the region. Assistant Coach Jonny Garcia praised the team’s dedication and is already thinking about the future:

“It was an incredible season. We had a disciplined and committed group that truly embodied what it means to be an Ocelot. This year taught us that despite our team being extremely talented, we have to learn to play finals, because that’s what Ocelots do every year. However, we are already setting new goals for next year and planning how to come back even stronger, so we don’t fail to achieve our objective again.”

Sophomore Kellen Larson, who concluded his three-year journey with Schoolcraft, echoed the sentiment.

“It was a special journey. I grew as a player and as a person here. I am grateful to my teammates and the coaching staff for believing in me and for helping to make my last season wonderful, but the lesson remains for the team next year, as the story could have been very different.”

Among the individual highlights, goalkeeper Ben Mondroja shone with consistency and crucial saves throughout the year. He earned four “Player of the Week” awards, including two in consecutive weeks, solidifying his position as one of the conference’s best goalkeepers and a key figure in the Ocelots’ defensive success.

Promising talents also made their mark this season. Devlin McGinnis, the team’s and conference’s assist leader, and right-back João Pedro Kushino, selected for the Conference All-Star Team after an impeccable performance in the regional final, are highlights of the promising future that awaits Schoolcraft’s soccer.

More than victories and statistics, this season was marked by unity, resilience, and passion. The group that is now saying goodbye leaves a legacy of hard work and pride, while the next generation carries the responsibility and the dream of taking the Ocelots back to the national stage.