Improved depth at forward combined with veteran midfield and defensive units have Ohio Wesleyan head coach Jay Martin hopeful that the Battling Bishop men's soccer team can reclaim the North Coast Athletic Conference championship and make another run into the NCAA Division III playoffs. To do so, however, Martin and the Battling Bishops must run another gauntlet of a schedule.
Ohio Wesleyan improved its offensive output from 27 goals to 39 in 2017, and Martin will look to depth at the forward spots to help continue that upward trend. "This is the deepest we've been at forward in a number of years. Instead of playing with one forward, we'll be playing with two."
Sophomore Ben Sobotka (Dublin/Jerome), who scored 4 goals last season, looks to open at one forward spot. Freshman Dom Calabrese (Beavercreek), who helped his high school team win a state championship, could win the other.
Junior Jarrod Ferstl (Dayton/Centerville), who returns after an injury-shortened 2017 season, sophomore Ryan Huelsman (Powell/Columbus St. Charles), and freshman Josh Moneme (Washington, D.C./Wilson), who helped his high school team win a pair of city championships, can play at the forward spots, with junior Jason Mejia (Silver Spring, Md./Bullis (D.C.) School also in the picture.
The Bishops are deep in the midfield as well. "It will be a challenge for the coaching staff to make sure we have the right people in at the right time," Martin said. "We will have the flexibility to play different formations."
At center midfield, senior Will Sharer (Avon) returns after sharing the team lead with 6 goals on the way to first-team All-Ohio and All-NCAC honors last year.
Junior Antonio Romanelli (Lewis Center/Columbus St. Francis DeSales), who missed the 2017 season with an injury, also returns, along with sophomore Drew Wivell (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg Area).
Freshman Hector Gomez (Columbus/St. Francis DeSales), an All-America pick in high school, and freshman Brody Kannally (Delaware/Hayes), a first-team all-district choice in high school, also will be heard from.
Junior Adam Yingling (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg Area), who led the team with 5 assists and shared the team lead with 13 points last year, can play either in the middle or outside.
In addition to Ferstl, Huelsman, and Moneme at the outside midfield positions, sophomore Matt Yingling (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg Area) was named NCAC Newcomer of the Year as well as honorable mention all-conference, senior Aidan Stout (Boulder, Colo./Fairview) will provide experience, and juniors Jared Hileman (York, Pa./Central York) and Nathan Trinh (Dublin/Scioto) also return.
Freshman Bryson Bates (Cincinnati/Sycamore), a first-team all-city pick in high school, also looks to contribute, and freshman Soree Kaba (Boston, Mass./St. Sebastian's) will vie for playing time.
The Bishops return 3 all-conference selections in the backfield in junior Joe Brush (Lawrenceburg, Ind./East Central), a second-team pick a year ago, along with senior Jack Shadoan (Dublin/Scioto) and junior Brady Whittekind (Hilliard/Bradley), each of whom were honorable mention All-NCAC selections.
Brush and Whittekind will anchor the Bishop defense from the center, while Shadoan and junior Nolan Norman (Cincinnati/Oak Hills) return at the outside back spots.
Junior Charles Branche III (Washington, D.C./Landon (Md.) School) and sophomore Isaiah Harris (Hilliard/Bradley) also are returning lettermen, and freshman Griff Culbertson (San Diego, Calif./Del Norte) will contribute.
Junior J.P. Baughman (Westerville/Columbus St. Francis DeSales), the Most Valuable Player of the 2017 NCAC tournament, takes over as the starter in goal. Sophomore Phoenix Huron (South Point/St. Joseph Central) also returns, and freshmen Chase Agin (Blacklick/Columbus St. Francis DeSales), who helped his high school team win 3 state championships, and classmate Sabastian Del Corral (Elyria), a 2-time first-team all-county selection in high school, ready in reserve.
Ohio Wesleyan faces another rugged schedule, including 5 teams that competed in the 2017 NCAA Division III tournament. The Bishops open the season with a trip to Illinois to face traditionally tough Washington (Mo.) and Wheaton (Ill.). The Fred Myers-adidas® Invitational follows with games against Waynesburg and Hanover. Perennial power Ohio Northern then comes to town, and the Bishops follow with a 2-week span that includes contests against 2017 playoff teams John Carroll, Otterbein, and Capital. The NCAC schedule begins on Sept. 22 against Oberlin and the non-conference schedule concludes against 2017 playoff team Thomas More on Oct. 3. The conference slate will be highlighted by defending champion Kenyon, and 2017 NCAC tournament teams Denison and Wabash.
