The 2021 Covenant men's soccer team toppled the USA South and then made program history.
After three straight USA South Tournament championship appearances that saw the Scots come up just short, Covenant claimed the tournament title and made its second appearance in an NCAA Tournament. Covenant then made program history when it defeated Denison, 1-0, in the first round for the program's first win in an NCAA Tournament.
Under fifth-year head coach Scott Bosgraf, the Scots got off to an 0-3-1 start to the season with a challenging non-conference slate.
Bosgraf's squad then turned it around and never looked back.
Covenant recorded a 15-match unbeaten streak and went 12-0-3 during the run en route to a conference tournament title and the NCAA Tournament appearance. Included in that stretch was a win at No. 4 Centre on Sept. 10 and a double-overtime win over William Peace in the USA South Tournament semifinals.
In the semifinals at top-seeded William Peace, the Scots trailed 3-2 with five minutes left in regulation. Jay Patterson then came up clutch with his first career goal in the 86th minute to knot the score. With less than 15 seconds left in the second overtime, Mercer Stout found Jake Major for the golden goal to send the Scots in the championship.
Reaching the championship match for a fourth straight year, Covenant battled N.C. Wesleyan to a scoreless draw through 110 minutes of action. For a third straight season, the Scots' championship hopes came down to a penalty shootout.
Henry Hooks made two saves in the shootout while Parker Owen, Jay Patterson, and Kade Theunissen converted their chances to give the Scots the title. It was Covenant's second USA South Tournament title in program history.
The Scots weren't done yet, though.
Facing Denison in the NCAA Tournament, Owen scored a first-half goal and the Scots' defense notched its ninth shutout of the year to give Covenant a 1-0 win and advance to the second round. In the second round, Covenant gave No. 1-ranked Washington & Lee all it could handle before the host Generals scored the game-winner in the 86th minute to defeat the Scots, 2-1.
Covenant put six players on All-USA South teams, while Stout and Owen earned All-Region honors from the United Soccer Coaches.
