KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Campbellsville University men's soccer team made a resounding statement in their opening match of the 2025 NCCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship, dismantling the Ohio Christian University Trailblazers 6-0 on Monday evening at the Austin-Tindall Sports Complex.
Entering the tournament as the No. 2 seed in Pool B, the Tigers utilized a blistering offensive attack and a suffocating defense to secure three points in group play. Campbellsville outshot Ohio Christian by a staggering margin of 36-1, placing 15 shots on frame while allowing only a single attempt on their own net throughout the full 90 minutes.
- The Tigers launched their NCCAA Championship campaign with a dominant 6-0 shutout over Ohio Christian University, moving to 1-0 in Pool B play.
- Campbellsville's attack was relentless, outshooting the Trailblazers 36-1 and forcing the Ohio Christian goalkeepers to make nine combined saves.
- Forward Mihlali Blesi recorded a brace in the first half, scoring two goals in a span of 17 minutes to help build an insurmountable early lead.
- Alessandro Martinez proved to be a spark off the bench in the second half, providing the service on two goals within a seven-minute window.
- The Campbellsville backline was impenetrable, conceding zero corner kicks in the first half and allowing only one shot on goal for the entire match to preserve the clean sheet.
- The Tigers (11-7-0) will now turn their attention to their second and final Pool B matchup. Campbellsville is set to face the No. 5 seed Ecclesia College on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. at the Austin-Tindall Sports Complex.
The Tigers wasted no time establishing possession and pressure in the attacking third. Within the first four minutes, Campbellsville had already earned two corner kicks and forced a save from OCU off a shot by
Izan Garcia Gancedo. The breakthrough finally came in the 22nd minute when Gancedo found the back of the net unassisted, putting the Tigers up 1-0.
Just two minutes later, the Tigers doubled their advantage. In the 24th minute, Gancedo turned provider, setting up
Mihlali Blesi for his first goal of the evening. The relentless pressure continued through the remainder of the half, with the Tigers firing 23 shots in the opening 45 minutes alone. Blesi struck again five minutes before the intermission, converting a pass from
Ollie Jagroop in the 41st minute to send Campbellsville into the locker room with a commanding 3-0 lead.
The second half saw no let-up from the Tigers' offense. In the 66th minute,
Eduardo De Filippis etched his name onto the scoresheet, finishing a pass from
Andreas Slethaug to extend the lead to 4-0.
As head coach Drew Sin utilized his depth, the substitutes kept the momentum rolling.
Alessandro Martinez became the playmaker of the second stanza, first assisting
Mark Horn for a goal in the 71st minute. Less than seven minutes later, Martinez connected with
Mark Holton in the 78th minute to cap the scoring at 6-0.
Defensively, goalkeeper
Malthe Schou had a quiet evening thanks to the possession dominance of the Tigers. He played nearly 78 minutes before giving way to
Isak Bodin. Ohio Christian's lone offensive highlight came in the 78th minute when Mason Sims put a shot on frame, but Bodin was there to make the save and preserve the shutout.
