WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College Men's Soccer team is looking to make a comeback this year with the addition of 19 new players.
2023 Season Review: W&J posted a 4-7-5 overall record with a 3-3-4 mark in conference play.
The Presidents opened their season with a scoreless draw against Marietta before picking up their first win against Hiram (3-2). In conference play the Red & Black picked up wins against Thiel (3-0), Waynesburg (4-3) and Bethany (2-1).
"I was very pleased with the way our younger guys handled themselves under challenging situations, especially against a number of the teams that were in the upper half of our conference table," said head coach
Ian McDonald. "Wins against Waynesburg, Bethany and ties against Westminster, St Vincent, Chatham, and Franciscan!"
Senior defender
Jacob Lee (Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani School) secured a spot on the All-PAC First team to pace the Presidents. Sophomore midfielder
Ethan Bowser (McKeesport, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) and freshman forward
Jimmy Gogol (Westminster, Md./Westminster) both earned Honorable Mention status.
"What I believe the team did well was compete. We went 3-3-4 in conference and 4-7-5 overall, with a challenging schedule," stated McDonald. "Due to a number of injuries to some key upper class players, we were at many times, forced to field five or six first-year players. It is hoped that the minuets that these guys experienced will pay off with greater poise and maturity this season!"
2024 PAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll (Predicted order of finish)
School (first-place votes) Points 2023 record (conference)
1. Geneva College (8) 97 12-5-4 (7-0-3 PAC)
2. Grove City College (2) 92 9-6-5 (6-3-1 PAC)
3. Franciscan University (1) 81 12-6-3 (6-1-3 PAC)
4. Allegheny College 62 6-11 (5-5 PAC)
5. Waynesburg University 57 10-7-2 (5-3-2 PAC)
6. Chatham University 55 6-9-3 (5-3-2 PAC)
7. Bethany College 44 4-10-3 (3-5-2 PAC)
8. Saint Vincent College 40 6-10-2 (2-6-2 PAC)
9. Washington & Jefferson College 37 4-7-5 (3-3-4 PAC)
10. Westminster College 29 5-8-4 (2-7-1 PAC)
11. Thiel College 11 1-13-3 (0-8-2 PAC)
PAC Players to Watch – Washington & Jefferson College
Name Yr. Pos. Hometown/High School
Charlie Boldosser Sr. GK Westminster, Md./South Carroll
Ethan Bowser (HM) Jr. M McKeesport, Pa./Elizabeth Forward
Jimmy Gogol (HM) So. F Westminster, Md./Westminster
Antonio Romero Sr. M Bowie, Md./Bowie
Justin Parker Wyatt So. F Coatesville, Pa./Unionville
Team Captains: Nolan Agostoni,
Ethan Bowser,
Charles Boldosser
"Nolan will be one of my team captains this season. Nolan is well respected by his teammates and is a fierce competitor," replied McDonald. "He will be joined in that role with
Ethan Bowser and Charlie Boldosser, who also are great mentors of our program, both on and off the field."
Position-by-Position Breakdown: After losing seven seniors at the conclusion of last fall's season to graduation, the men's soccer team looks to the wave of oncoming talent coupled with the returning seven seniors, five juniors and thirteen sophomores to step up and fill the starting spots.
Forwards: Having lost a key forward,
McKinley Joseph (Stamford, Ct. / King School), who was the only President last fall to start in every game on the schedule, the Red & Black will look to fill his shoes this upcoming season.
W&J will look for more scoring production from its forward group this fall after an inconsistent offensive effort in 2023. With the second most goals on the team scoring 5 last season,
Ethan Bowser is returning in hopes of keeping his starting spot on the field shuffling between forward and midfield. Right behind him hoping to also recollect his spot and continue finding the back of the net is sophomore
Justin Parker Wyatt (Coatesville, Pa. / Unionville) who scored the third most goals of the team last season as a freshman with 4 goals.
Tavan Schoenberger (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) and
Michael Ngugi (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Thomas Jefferson) are also expected to see the field more this season among the charge after appearing on the pitch last season.
Zach Bollinger (Reinholds, Pa. / Cocalico),
Kevin Burton (Bowie, Md. / Riverdale Baptist) and
Gio Mancino (Lebanon, Pa. / Cedar Crest) join the team this year as well expecting to make an impact on the field.
"It is hoped that Parker Wyatt and a healthy
Tavan Schoenberger, all rookies from last season, can continue to mature and spread out the goal scoring numbers," said McDonald. "It is hoped that one or two of our incoming freshmen can help in that effort too."
Midfield: W&J boasts a wide array of depth and experience in the midfield. After starting 12 of 16 games last season as a freshman and scoring the most goals of the team with 6,
Jimmy Gogol looks to replicate his role on the field this season among the group of returning midfielders as well as mixed among the forwards too.
"We expect continued impact from
Jimmy Gogol as he continues to grow and mature in the goal scoring, especially the success he had last season," said McDonald.
Also, stepping back onto the pitch and hoping to make an impact both on the field and in a leadership role this season after prior injuries prevented him from participating in the 2023 season is senior midfielder and forward
Nolan Agostoni (Greensburg, Pa. / Latrobe). Fellow senior
Antonio Romero (Bowie, Md./Bowie ) and junior
Gannon Ryan (McAlisterville, Pa. / East Juniata) are also expected to make key contributions as returners in the upcoming season as well.
Defense: W&J possesses a lot of returning experience in the back line, as multiple starters return to a unit that helped W&J rank among the best in the PAC in goals allowed.
Senior
Jai Sama (India / Brookhouse College (England)), Junior forward
Nathan Lomago (Mars, Pa. / Eden Christian Academy) and sophomore
Cole Young (Doylestown, pa. / Central Bucks West) are among those that return this season looking to guide the oncoming newcomers.
"It is hoped that the minutes those younger guys had in playing time and experience last season, should no doubt afford us greater maturity and stability in our back line," said McDonald. "I also believe we have, with this year's incoming class added a great deal of depth and competition to that area of our team."
Goalkeeper: W&J retains its starting goalkeeper with the return of
Charles Boldosser (Westminster, Md. / Westminster) and also regains sophomore
Graeme Ewart (Arlington, Va./Yorktown) and senior
Tyler Haczela (Beaver, Pa. / Beaver). This sets the Presidents up with a solid core group in the net.
Boldosser returns after starting 14 of 16 games last season and racking up 73 saves. Ewart is looking to gain more time in goal after starting a game and appearing in six matches last season with 21 saves.
Haczela returns to the team after a year hiatus during the 2023 season looking to yield some time in the net as well.
"Charlie's years of experience will be very valuable to the team in helping stabilize the back line. Having Tyler back to rejoin the team, with his prior knowledge and experience within the program will also be an asset," stated McDonald. "I would however be remiss, if I were not mention the quality we have in sophomore keeper
Graeme Ewart. Graeme is a very capable goalkeeper and will combined with both Charlie and Tyler offer us excellent depth in this role!"
Newcomers: The men's soccer team enters the 2024 season with a bountiful pool of recruits bringing in 17 freshman and 3 transfers and with them even more depth to the team and the midfield specifically.
"No different in any other class. I expect them to challenge and push our upperclassmen ranks and afford the program healthy depth in competition," said McDonald. "Considering that through injury and some unique attrition, we are presently sitting with seven seniors, four juniors and 11 sophomores!"
Transfers
Name POS. HT. WT. Hometown/Highschool
Logen Mackey M 5'7" 160 McDonald, Pa. / West Allegheny
Nic Jaskola D/M 5'9" 155 East Palestine, Ohio / Crestview
Timilehin Odegbami D/F 6'0" 185 Harrisburg, Pa. / International
Freshman
Name POS. HT. WT. Hometown /Highschool
Aiden Bell D/M 6'0" 165 Fayetteville, W.Va. / Woodrow Wilson
Cooper Bell D 6'0" 155 Fayetteville, W.Va. Woodrow Wilson
Zach Bollinger M/F 6'0" 165 Reinholds, Pa. / Cocalico
Kevin Burton M/F 5'8" 166 Bowie, Md. / Riverdale Baptist
Zach Casey D/M 5'10" 155 Glen Allen, Va. / Deep Run
Chris Davis D 6'0" 165 Toms Brook, Va. / Strasburg
Derek Errett D 5'11" 160 McDonald, Pa. / Fort Cherry
Jude Gully M/F 6'0" 160 Rockville, Md. / Thomas S. Wootton
Alonte Harris D 5'7" 170 Arlington, Va. / Washington Lee
Matteo Lesako M 5'8" 170 Washington, Pa. / Trinity
Brian Lowry D 6'0" 155 Wenonah, N.J. / Gloucester
Gio Mancino F/M 5'8" 165 Lebanon, Pa. / Cedar Crest
Xavier Phillips F/M 5'8" 150 Arnold, Md. / Broadneck
Dylan Remsburg M 5'10" 150 Port Orange, Fla. / Atlantic
Dayton Siegler M 6'0" 155 Hampstead, Md. / Manchester Valley
Krassimir Vassilev M/F 5'11" 161 Lebanon, Pa. / Cedar Crest
Coaching Staff:
Ian McDonald (Davis & Elkins '86) enters his 33rd season as the head men's soccer coach at Washington & Jefferson College in 2023. McDonald's career record stands at 283-248-46 (.530) after the completion of the 2022 season. He is the 10th longest tenured active head coach in NCAA Division III Men's Soccer.
McDonald's 30th season guiding the Presidents was certainly a successful one, as W&J captured its second straight PAC Tournament title. At the conclusion of the season, McDonald was named PAC Coach of the Year for a sixth time. The conference title was the fifth for McDonald at W&J. Freshman Jayden Da led the league in points (17) and assists (5) and was named both the PAC Player of the Year and the PAC Newcomer of the Year. W&J finished the spring season ranked No. 10 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 National Poll. McDonald was honored as W&J's Jack Rea Athletic Staff Member of the Year Award following 2020-21. The award is presented annually to the most outstanding athletics staff member each year.
Noel Diaz joins the coaching staff to assist McDonald for the 2024 season.
"Noel, has transitioned into the role very well, in such a short space of time," replied McDonald. "His own playing and coaching experience is already starting to surface. He seems hungry to learn and is excited about the coming season and the challenges ahead!"
Diaz was a two-year member of the team at Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland. Diaz played three different positions, Right Back, Center Defensive Midfield, and Outside Midfield. He started in 11 of the 34 games he appeared in and scored a goal while tallying seven assists during his time with the Dragons. The Dragons won a regional title both years Diaz attended.
Diaz then attended Paul Smith's College in Brighton, New York where he started all 26 games in the two years he attended. He won YSCC All Conference First Team Honors and USCAA D2 First Team All American Honors. He Scored 9 goals and had 3 assists while going 4 for 4 from the penalty spot.
He spent this last spring as the interim Head Coach at Paul Smith's College while earning his bachelor's degree in Business Management with a concentration in Sports Management.
Looking at the Schedule: The Presidents are slated to compete in 10 conference and non-conference bouts starting with the latter for a full 20-game schedule this fall.
The Red & Black will get the ball rolling with nine straight non-conference games against Pitt Greensburg, Muskingum, Marietta, Hiram, Penn State Altoona, Carnegie Mellon, Penn State Harrisburg, La Roche, and Mount Aloysius before facing their first Presidents Athletic conference opponent, Geneva, in their PAC home opener on Sept. 25.
Oberlin will then travel to take on the Presidents at Alexandre Stadium in their last non-conference meeting before W&J faces the final nine PAC competitors ending with Westminster on Oct. 30.
Final Words from McDonald: "We want to get back in the hunt for the PAC Title and will work hard too achieve that task!"
