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Standout From Nassau Helps Georgetown Soccer Team Win First National Title

It came down to the wire, but a Long Island resident helped lead Georgetown University to the school’s first national championship.

Dylan Nealis helped lead Georgetown to its first national soccer title.

Dylan Nealis helped lead Georgetown to its first national soccer title.

Photo Credit: Georgetown University
Dylan Nealis helped lead Georgetown to its first national soccer title.

Dylan Nealis helped lead Georgetown to its first national soccer title.

Photo Credit: Georgetown University

Senior defender Dylan Nealis, who terrorized teams for years while he starred for Massapequa High School, had one last shot at delivering on a promise he made to his coach four years ago when he committed to the Hoyas.

It was a thrilling game for the Hoyas, who took the game to penalty kicks, finally prevailing 7-6 against No. 1 Virginia in a game played Sunday night, Dec. 15 in Cary, North Carolina.

The game was decided in penalty kicks after the score remained tied 3-3 after three overtime periods once the University of Virginia tied it up in the 86th minute.

The two exhausted squads couldn’t finish in overtime, despite chances, sending it to penalties.

All 10 shooters made their kicks in the first five rounds. In the seventh round, Aidan Rocha put the Hoyas up 7-6, setting the stage for freshman goalie Tomas Romero, who made a diving save to his right to bat Axel Gunnarsson’s shot away, sending Georgetown to its first title.

Nealis, who had a shot on goal in the championship game, was named the Defensive Most Outstanding Player and earned a spot on the all-Tournament team.

“It all starts back to when Georgetown started (this run of success), there were so many alumni out there who wanted to rush out onto the field as soon as Tomas saved that PK,” Nealis said. “Those 2012 guys couldn’t be happier for us. This win wasn’t just for us but the rest of Georgetown. The whole university.”

During the regular season, Nealis ranked fourth on the team in scoring with two goals and a team-best seven assists for 11 points on the year. He scored two game-winners during the season, including one the NCAA Tournament win over West Virginia. In his career, Nealis played in 78 games, scoring seven goals with 14 assists.

Coach Brian Wiese said that Nealis saw the writing on the wall, calling his shot years before they would hoist the national championship trophy after topping the Cavaliers, noting that Nealis’ brother, Jimmy is a former player and alumni.

“Jimmy was senior on the 2012 team that lost in the final to Indiana,” he said. “When Dylan committed to play at Georgetown he started the phone call and said, ’coach I just want to finish the job my brother started and I’m going to come to Georgetown and we’re gonna win a national championship. Almost ran out of time so I’m glad he figured it out.”

Nealis quipped “that story is really true,” and added, “I couldn’t be more happy for Coach. We know how badly he wanted this one. The whole moment was just special. I hugged him after the game and told him ‘I finished the job.’”  

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