The Flames/Ambassadors and the Stallions are the 2025 Turkey Fest champions.
The Sigma Lambda Delta Duskies faced off against the combined Nu Sigma Flames/Ambassadors team in the women’s championship, the Turkey Cup. Nu Sigma was looking for back-to-back championships while the Duskies aimed for their first ever Turkey Cup title.
Haley Mohnacky, one of the Nu Sigma coaches, said, “My favorite part of the season was just the unity between the two societies.”
The combination of the Nu Alpha Phi Flames and the Alpha Sigma Omicron Ambassadors for a championship soccer team is largely due to the fact that many of the Ambassadors transferred from the Flames in an effort to revitalize the society– an effort that has been successful thus far. Commenting on this joint team, Mohnacky observed that it “allowed old and new friendships to either be strengthened or created.”
The game was a back-and-forth dance all evening, both teams matching each other goal for goal until the second half. The Duskies had an incredible midfield goal from midfielder Amelia Cudar and many excellent defensive plays by Abby Woo and Paige Johnson. But Nu Sigma outplayed them in the end, their third goal just tipping over the goalie’s gloves. Gracie Roland’s speed at right-wing could not be beaten, and Paige Dawson tipped in a header off of a penalty kick.
In the end, the Nu Sigma Flames/Ambassadors defeated the Sigma Lambda Delta Duskies 3-2.
Amaris John, one of the Nu Sigma coaches, said of the game, “When the final whistle blew, I felt so excited and relieved that we finally pulled off the win.”
The men’s 11s league championship was between the Theta Kappa Chi Stallions and Sigma Alpha Chi Spartans. The Stallions defeated the Spartans in a close 1-0 match. The Spartans and Stallions competed twice during the regular season, each team winning one of these games.
Emotions were high throughout the night as both teams fought for control of the game. With the wind against them, the Stallions were feeling discouraged in the first half. The Spartans controlled the field for most of the first half. However, after switching sides, the Stallions used the wind to their advantage.
“We knew it was going to be a 70-minute battle that would come down to the wire,” said Charley Tomko, the Stallions’ team captain. The first half of the match ended 0-0 and spectators were on the edge of their seats. The Stallions’ goalie, Jackson Baron, made several impressive saves.
The only goal of the game was a wild shot from deep midfield by Gael Mallen. “I didn’t even think it was going in,” Gael said of his incredible goal. “I thought I was done after last year, but God gave us the victory.”
The Stallions were excited to defeat a team that has made it to the Turkey Bowl for the last several years.
“When the final whistle blew, the joy and excitement filled Alumni Stadium as our teammates, fans and families all rushed the field,” Tomko said.
Ethan Smith, a player on the Stallions, said, “We were overjoyed at the end of the match, not only because we had won, but because we had done so alongside some of our closest friends.”
Smith said that strong relationships among teammates separated the Stallions from the other teams in the regular season.
After a tough loss, the Spartans were already looking toward 2026.
“Don’t worry,” said Sigma Spartans’ social media. “We’ll be back next year.”
