Bison soccer players Chad Evringham & Matt Eby on historic USA Deaf National Soccer Team

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Bison sophomore Chad Evringham and former Bison star and two-time All-CAC second teamer Matt Eby traveled to Patras, Greece with the USA Deaf National Soccer Team to compete in the World Deaf Football Championship. The Americans finished with a historic advancement to the semifinal round, after beating Italy off penalty kicks.

The road for the Stars and Stripes on the way to the quarterfinals against Italy took the team through matches against the Netherlands, France and China.  USA picked up a 2-0 win against Netherlands, a 0-3 loss to France, and a 2-1 win over China to secure the historic quarterfinal appearance against Italy.

In the semifinal against Turkey, the game ended 0-0 in regulation, despite a goal from team USA that was nullified on an offside call. In the second match for the Americans to go into penalty kicks, Turkey picked up the advantage, 4-2.

Team USA faced off against France for the consolation match, with the French picking up a 2-0 win. Despite the losses, the trip to Greece put the USA Deaf National Soccer Team on the map with a first-ever semifinal appearance and the highest finish, a fourth-place ranking out of 15 teams.

Evringham will return to Bison Soccer in 2008 under head coach Larry Musa. Eby will continue his tenure as an assistant coach under Musa and playing for a local semi-professional team within the United Soccer Leagues, Real Maryland.

For the piece focusing on Eby representing Real Maryland by Matt Skinner, click here.