For the Virginia Peninsula Community College men’s soccer team, the 2025 season was a case of it being more than the sum of its parts. The Gators posted just two wins, but there was much to be proud of, said first-year coach Al Cousineau.
“I don’t know if there’s anything that stands out specifically about the season except the totality of it all; how it came together,” he said. “To end up where we ended up was phenomenal.”
He’s sure as his players reflect on the season, they would do it all over again if given the chance.
“That, in and of itself, is really what the season ended up being about,” Cousineau said. “It’s about building something that’s worthwhile that kids want to be a part of.”
The program, in its third year, faced a lot of challenges that first-year programs often face. That made it somewhat of a rebuilding year, but there were bright spots.
Among the highlights were winning two of their final four matches, including a comeback win on sophomore night, which Cousineau said demonstrated the team’s growth.
“(Sophomore) night will stand out as the best overall team performance,” he said. “They put it all together when it mattered. Toward the end of the season, you should be playing your best soccer, and they proved they were.”
Highlight reel goals from Dunlen Francis (Bruton High School) and Cody Cole (Bruton), along with dominant performances from Luuay Hassan throughout the season, also stood out. However, Cousineau’s pick for team MPV would be goalkeeper Devin Hayes.
“It has to be our goalie. Our All-American-nominated goalie,” he said.
Hayes, a freshman, graduated from Walsingham Academy in Williamsburg and played club soccer on the peninsula.
“He faced probably a record-number of shots this season. In every game that we played, he was huge,” Cousineau said. “He’s got a great heart, and he plays his heart out.”
Again, Cousineau stressed the team aspect.
“The main takeaway is there’s nothing but opportunity and better things to come,” he said.
He aims to make VPCC one of the top programs in the region. He knows that will take time, but notes the team made big strides this year, although outsiders might not have noticed.
“As a result, we should have up to nine, maybe 10 players coming back,” he said. “That continuity is what will feed the program’s success going forward.”
When a program can add ambitious young players to veteran returners, there is no building from scratch every year.
“I think that is probably the greatest thing that we have to look forward to,” Cousineau said.
Building a culture of success starts with one season, the coach noted. He thinks that was accomplished this season.
“I think all will tell you they have benefited from their experience this year,” he said of his players, who quickly developed a sense of camaraderie and formed lots of friendships. “That’s my goal every year, to have the kids look at it as not just worthwhile but worth every second of their dedication.”
He said the players bought into the program, which allowed them to grow as a team and as individuals.
“That’s what it’s all about,” Cousineau said. “Because of those things, the season was a huge success.”
Even if it didn’t show in the record.
Sophomore night success: Hassan scored twice as the Gators defeated Mid-Atlantic Christian University 3-2 on Oct. 21, sophomore night. His second goal of the night, coming with 1:46 remaining, was the game-winner. The Gators fell behind less than four minutes into the game but tied it with 19 minutes to go in the first half on a goal by Mohammad Jalal Saeed. It stayed that way until the visitors scored with 30 minutes to go in the game. However, Hassan scored his first goal of the game with 13:32 to tie it, setting the stage for his late-gamer heroics.
Men’s basketball
The Gators dropped to 1-2 after losing 86-80 to the College of Southern Maryland on Friday, Nov. 7, at SafeHaven Empowerment Center. The game was taped and will be shown on SKY 4 television Saturday, Nov. 22 at 1 p.m.
VPCC took a 47-27 halftime lead behind 13 points from Jayden Sepulveda (Landstown High School) and 12 from Monte Gatlin (Churchland). However, the visiting Hawks made adjustments at halftime that stymied the Gators. Sepulveda finished with a team-high 15 points, Jordan Watlington (Menchville) had 14 (10 in the second half), Gatlin 13 and Chris Cyrus (Hampton Christian Academy) 10.
The Gators struggled putting the ball in the basket after halftime. They hit six 3-pointers in the first half but just one in the second. At the line, the Gators were 5 of 7 in the opening 20 minutes but 14 of 21 in the final 20 minutes.
Coincidentally, the Gators defeated Johnston Community College by the same score Nov. 2 in its home-opener, one day after losing the season-opener 81-80 to Louisburg College (N.C.)
Jakobe Reed, a sophomore guard from Woodside High School, scored 22 points for the Gators against JCC. Cyrus added 13 points, and Emmanuel Angila (Kempsville) had 11. The game was played in front of about 100 spectators at SafeHaven Empowerment Center in Newport News.
The Gators never trailed after taking a 3-1 lead on their first 3-pointer of the game. They used an 11-0 run to take a 36-18 lead and led 43-29 at halftime.
The Jaguars came out strong in the second half, outscoring the Gators 28-16 to close to 59-57 with 12:22 remaining in the game. Johnston was down 63-61 with just under 10 minutes left and trailed 78-73 with 2:24. But Cyrus, a sophomore guard, answered with a 3-pointer from the left corner after Reed drove the lane and kicked it out, giving the Gators an 81-73 lead. They made just enough free throws (5 of 10) down the stretch for the win. All 12 players who got in the game for the Gators scored.
In their season-opening loss, the Gators trailed by 10 with about seven minutes left but went on a 10-0 run to tie the game. They had the ball down one in the closing seconds but couldn’t pull out the victory.
For more information on athletics at the College, visit www.vpccgators.com.