Pontifical North American College loses in Clericus Cup semifinals

Published: 2008-04-22

ROME (CNS) -- The Pontifical North American College Martyrs lost 4-0 in the semifinals of the Clericus Cup soccer tournament to last year's champions, the Redemptoris Mater team of the Neocatechumenal Way's seminary. The Martyrs will play the UCRO team made up of Ukrainian and Croatian seminarians and priests for third place May 3. It is the first time the NAC players have had a chance to capture third place. The undefeated Redemptoris Mater team will face the Legionaries of Christ's Mater Ecclesiae for the Clericus Cup championship the same day. While losing to "Red Mat" April 19 was a disappointment for the Martyrs, trainer and co-captain Daniel O'Mullane of Paterson, N.J., said the defeat was made even more bitter by what he called the aggressive play and poor sportsmanship displayed by the opposing team. "We're still trying to digest the experience," he told Catholic News Service April 21. "We're not overly discouraged by the fact we lost a tough game," he said.

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