Historic soccer team celebrated

The accomplishments of a groundbreaking squad of athletes have now been officially celebrated.

Howard University’s famed 1974 soccer team, which made history 50 years ago, was inducted last week into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame. They were the first Historically Black College/University to win an NCAA national title, claiming victory following an undefeated campaign. It was an enormous achievement, not only because they were pioneers, but because they won the championship in a sport where not many HBCUs were even fielding teams at the time, and one that still isn’t nearly as popular on Black college campuses as football or basketball.

“I don’t think I realized just how big this was, for Howard and for Black people,” goalkeeper Trevor Leiba, reflecting on the team’s impact and legacy, told News One. For head coach Lincoln Phillips, the 1974 victory was a rightful reclaiming of their 1971 championship title, which had been controversially revoked. “Truth crushed to Earth shall rise again,” Phillips said, underscoring the team’s resilience. He also noted how the success helped lay “the groundwork for the game to become what it is for our people.”

The induction weekend included an official ceremony and a celebratory dinner led by alumnus Rock Newman. The team’s legacy was previously captured in the 2016 documentary “Redemption Song,” which chronicled their journey and highlighted the team’s transformative influence on soccer, particularly within the Black community. HU Bison Sports and Howard’s official Instagram account shared the great news with members of the championship team. The caption reads: “We kicked off the weekend walking through history with some of our greats! Members of the historic 1974 men’s soccer team took a trip to the National African American Museum of History and Culture ahead of the HOF banquet. Come out to Greene Stadium at Noon as we recognize the ONLY national championship team to go undefeated in the history of the NCAA, Howard University’s 1974 men’s soccer team! #BleedBlue.”

The university also shared a throwback of the championship team from 1974 with the caption: “Fifty years after a phenomenal undefeated season and NCAA championship, Howard University’s 1974 men’s soccer team will be inducted into the Howard University Athletics Hall of Fame today. Howard was the first HBCU to win a NCAA national championship.”