The Ohio Wesleyan men's soccer team and head coach Jay Martin look to 17 returning lettermen, a large incoming class, and dramatically increased depth to help the Battling Bishops reclaim the North Coast Athletic Conference championship and make another run into the NCAA Division III playoffs.
"We're deeper at every position than we've been the last few years," Martin said. "The freshman class is really, really good and not only will provide depth, but they will play, and some will play a lot. We should be competing for the conference championship and the NCAA Division III tournament again."
In goal, junior Mason Taylor (Marysville) returns. Playing the first half of games during the final 6 weeks of the 2021 season, Taylor did not allow a goal during that stretch, helping the Bishops rank 10th in NCAA Division III in goals-against average (0.58).
Senior Asher Rose (Westerville/South) and junior Nikolaos Bakirtzis (Thessoloniki, Greece/Anatolia College) also return, and freshman Sam Whitman (Towson, Md./Friends School of Baltimore) will contribute.
Senior Ethan Marshall (Bexley/Columbus St. Charles), junior Charlie Riddle (Hilliard/Davidson), and Brady West (Dublin/Columbus St. Charles) are veterans in the Bishop backfield, and sophomore Justin Carro (Wharton, N.J./Morris Hills) and sophomore Josh Cabacungan (Medina) will have increased roles this season. Junior Jeremy Reger (Buffalo, N.Y./Nichols School) and sophomore Alex Goldenberg (New York, N.Y./Dwight School) also return.
Freshman Gabe O'Reilly (Westerville/Columbus St. Charles), an all-state selection in high school, should make an impact, and freshman Parker Cameron (Powell/Olentangy Liberty), an All-America pick in high school, and freshman Tristan Ruiz de Somocurcio (Tampa, Fla./Tampa Preparatory), who helped his high school team win a state championship, also should contribute right away. Freshman Brady Cormier (Waterboro, Maine/Cheverus) and freshman Mitchell Cosler (Beavercreek), a second-team all-state pick in high school, also are in the mix.
Traditionally a Bishop strength, the midfield again looks to be the team's backbone.
Senior Cristian Gomez (Columbus/St. Francis DeSales) was a second-team all-region selection last year and could see time at forward as well this season. Senior Ethan Love (Hilliard/Bradley) won second-team All-NCAC recognition last season and senior Mikey Cockerell (Blacklick/Columbus St. Francis DeSales) and sophomore Landon Kuhn (Lewis Center/Olentangy Berlin) also have starting experience.
Junior Ethan Berkovitz (Solon) and sophomore Drew Doza (Lexington, Ky./Dunbar) are returning lettermen, and sophomore Thurman Hou (Temple City, Calif./La Salle College Preparatory) and sophomore Dante Roselli (Burlington, Ontario/Assumption Catholic Secondary) are back as well. Freshman Ryan Betts (Columbus/Olentangy Berlin) was an all-state honoree in high school and could make an impact this season, and freshman Mathias Koo (Galena/Olentangy Orange) was an all-conference pick in high school.
At forward, junior Jaggar Brooker (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) was named the NCAC's Offensive Player of the Year after collecting 10 goals -- including 6 game-winners -- in 2021. Senior Dom Calabrese (Beavercreek) scored 5 goals and sophomore Franklin Rodriguez (Santiago, Dominican Republic/Berkshire (Mass.)) ranked second on the team with 4 assists last season.
Senior Will Harr (Pickerington/North) and junior Zach Jasper (Hilliard/Darby) are returning lettermen, and sophomore Thomas Stathulis (Westerville/South) also returns. Freshman forward Christopher Guerra (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne) should contribute immediately, freshman Rowan Kriebel (Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley) was an all-state pick in high school, and freshman Jake Lash (Wilton, Conn.) and freshman Aiden Wightman (Beavercreek) look to make their mark.
Ohio Wesleyan, ranked No. 21 in the 2022 United Soccer Coaches preseason poll, opens its season on Sept. 2 when the Bishops host Case Reserve and 2021 NCAA Division III tournament team Loras in the Fred Myers Invitational. Perennial power Hope and ninth-ranked Calvin come to Delaware the following weekend for the adidas® Invitational. Non-conference games against John Carroll, Otterbein, and Trine, all 2021 NCAA Division III tournament teams, follow. The NCAC schedule opens on Oct. 1 at Oberlin and includes matchups against 17th-ranked Kenyon and 2021 NCAA Division III tournament team Denison. The NCAC tournament is scheduled for Nov. 2 and Nov. 5.
