Sean Finucane

Wenzler’s Warriors: Gianluca’s Team/All-Opponent Awards

7/18/2024 3:38:00 PM | By: Gianluca DiGiacomo, Staff Writer

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OH – It's been a long eight months since the end of the soccer season, and it was a stellar offseason for the Men's Soccer squad as they kicked it into full gear with their training and intrasquad spring league. With plenty of time to reflect on a fun season for myself, I figured it would be a great idea to commend the season in a fun way for all of the John Carroll and Division III Men's Soccer fans out there!

To introduce myself, my name is Gianluca DiGiacomo. I am a rising junior at John Carroll University, and I am a team manager and sports information captain for the Men's Soccer team. Not only do I travel and do social media for the team, but I am also the play-by-play commentator for the team, and you have likely heard my voice or read my recaps if you keep up during the season.

After a solid 14-win season with a national tournament win to show for, I have had the pleasure of witnessing some great soccer not only from our own team, but from our opponents. In this article, I want to encapsulate an electric season from my own perspective.

There will be two main aspects of this article; team awards from throughout the season, as well as my own personal All-Opponent XI, highlighting some of the finest talent of John Carroll's foes throughout the season.

***A quick note: These awards/lineups are in no way official; no coaches, players, or athletic department members were consulted in the selection of these awards. This is simply a fun way to commemorate the season from myself!

Without further ado, my personal team awards for Wenzler's Warriors!

Team Awards

Game of the Year – OAC Quarterfinal vs. Capital University, 10/31
Honorable Mention: NCAA Second Round vs. #2 University of Mary Washington

A close race with the team's incredible performance in Virginia, but the magic of this game simply could not go unnoticed.

One of the most incredible games in recent memory for the program. After suffering a humiliating 3-1 loss on Senior Night to the Comets at home just ten days before, the Blue Streaks had some vengeance planned after dropping their first loss to their Columbus rivals since a double overtime 1-0 loss back in 2018.

The competition was fierce through the entire duration of the match, the first half nearly ending scoreless. With mere seconds left on the clock, Mujahid Abdel-Ghani pulled the visitors up, linking up beautifully with Jack Kossoudji and Jack Francisco across the middle for a ball squared into the center and finished nicely. John Carroll went into the half trailing a goal, and my goodness did they have a response cooking up.

Five minutes into the second half, the Blue Streaks set themselves up 30 yards away from goal following a tactical foul from Samuel Yocum in transition. Fifth year veteran Brenden Swann got himself situated comfortably over the ball, picked his target, and struck the ball with elegance, sending in a dazzling goal from long distance into the top left corner.

A wonderful goodbye to Don Shula Stadium from him, finishing his Blue Streak career with 92 appearances, 32 starts, 9 goals, and 7 assists.

The game would remain close afterwards—John Carroll finding their footing on the offensive side while Capital shifted more defensively, methodically picking some convincing counter attacks. A back and forth ordeal that was eventually sent into overtime.

Through a grueling overtime, the Blue Streaks rapidly counter attacked towards the end of the second period, Logan Penton squaring a ball into the middle for Jaden Wright, who laid it off for Jack Foht. Foht's efforts would be smothered by Ethan Ogden, who had an incredible night.

The Blue Streaks hastily set up their corner kick with 33 seconds on the clock. Logan Penton whipped in a cross, reaching the head of center back Steven Samuelson, heading the ball into the upper hand of Ethan Ogden who would deflect it into the top of the net, sending Don Shula Stadium into hysterics. [WATCH HERE]

A match sending everybody involved through a kaleidoscope of shifting emotions, and gave me the time of my life in the press box for 2,000+ viewers.

Goal of the Year – Brenden Swann vs. Capital University, OAC Quarterfinal; 10/31
Honorable Mention: Daniel Kalic vs. Wilmington College; 9/30

A quick followup to the Match of the Year, Brenden Swann's 30-yard free kick wins my personal Goal of the Year award. A tight finish with Daniel Kalic's military-grade strike of the ball in Wilmington, but the sheer gravity of this goal is what propels it above the rest. A goal that had me giggling like a girl scout for long after, which you can watch [HERE].

Freshman of the Year – Luka Pranjeta
Honorable Mention: Carson Essad

Part of John Carroll's incredible depth this season stems from an incredible freshman class, spearheaded by the Eastlake-native Luka Pranjeta.

The freshman had high expectations from the coaching staff after shattering Willoughby South High School's scoring record, and he certainly delivered.

Pranjeta finished his first collegiate season with four goals and two assists, most notably scoring the tying goal against The College of Wooster and tallying a goal and an assist in games against Heidelberg and Muskingum.

Seeing his growth in just one season of play was astounding, and there is a great deal of excitement to see where he goes from here. Expect a considerably greater role on the attacking lines for the 2024 season.

Most Improved – Nathan Monastra
Honorable Mention: Brenden Moher

With some tactical changes inbound this coming season and some quality personnel graduating from last season, Nathan Monastra truly stepped up to the plate. The wing back played five times the amount of matches and ten times the amount of minutes compared to his freshman year, and started in some key affairs including against nationally-ranked Calvin, and three separate conference matches.

This season has given Monastra so many moments to shine, and he displayed some excellent feats of athleticism, versatility, and in-game IQ. His ability to mold himself into multiple positions and tactical builds made him a useful piece to the puzzle this season, and remains as another player who you should be stoked to see this upcoming season.

Defensive Player of the Year – Izac Coleman
Honorable Mention: Steven Samuelson

Another neck-and-neck award for me, but Izac Coleman takes the cake for my personal Defensive Player of the Year.

Coleman built on top of his impressive resume from last season, earning himself Second Team All-Conference and Third Team All-Region. Coleman was second on the team in minutes played with 1,688, and was the only player on the team to start in all 22 contests.

Coleman's prowess on the pitch did not stop at the back, though, knocking in an Olimpico goal against Baldwin Wallace and tallying three assists on the year as well.

The reigning team captain will be coming back for the upcoming season as a graduate student, returning his great contributions to the team both on and off the pitch.

Offensive Player of the Year – Jaden Wright
Honorable Mention(s): Jack Foht, Hayden Haffner

Yet another extremely tight battle for the prize, Jaden Wright's clutch gene is what gives him the edge for my Offensive Player of the Year. Out of his eight goals for the team, five of them were game winners, many of which coming in the most crucial of matches.

In just his second match for the Blue Streaks, he got the offense kickstarted with the opening goal in a shocking 4-0 thrashing of #5 in the nation in Kenyon College. Just four days later, he was the lone goalscorer in the team's 1-0 win against Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, marking the squad's first win over the Tartans since 2003.

Three games later, Wright would bag a brace (including the game winner) in a 3-1 win over Ohio Wesleyan in Delaware.

To open conference play, he secured another brace in Wilmington, scoring the game winner in the 82nd minute off of a Jack Foht assist.

Wright was also the attacking mastermind behind a dominant 2-1 victory over Ohio Northern, assisting the first goal to Daniel Kalic and scoring midway into the second half.

After a six-game spell without a goal involvement, Wright knocked in a goal to prompt John Carroll's attack in their thriller against Mary Washington in the Round of 32, finishing the season tied second on the team for points, tied fourth in the OAC for goals, tied fifth in assists, and earned Second Team All-OAC and Third Team All-Region honors.

Most Valuable Player – Nicholas Graeca
Honorable Mention: Daniel Kalic

This was the toughest choice of them all, but what can I say? Nick Graeca was simply the best of the best this season, no question about it.

There are so many different routes to take when choosing an award like this, but Graeca's work on the pitch was simply astonishing. From playing just about every position in the midfield possible, to seemingly never running out of energy despite playing eleven 80+ minute matches for the team. Graeca capped his year off with 8 goals and 5 assists, 21 points, and a First Team All-OAC honors.

The DuBois, PA native had an expansive year of highlights, finishing non-conference play with three goals and two assists.

Graeca particularly excelled in the beginning of conference play, even having a three-game span where he knocked in four goals and assisted two more.

He would finish the season on a high note, assisting Jack Foht's sole goal in their 1-0 victory over St. Mary's College of Baltimore in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, as well as scoring a late game-tying penalty against Mary Washington.

Whether it be his iconic frontflip celebration, unmatched energy, or locker room antics, there is never a dull day with my season MVP.

Graeca will continue his success on the pitch through the spring and summer, playing for Steel City FC in their US Open Cup appearance in March and playing for them during their 2024 season. This past weekend, Graeca won the Great Lakes Division Championship after a first place regular season finish with the Pittsburgh squad in the NPSL, and now moves onto regional play. This is a continued stream of excellence from the team after also winning the division last season and making the regional final.

All-Opponent XI

Now for my personal favorite part of the article, my personal All-Opponent XI! Of course John Carroll prides themselves on a great strength of schedule throughout the season, and that truly translates into the incredible talent that is seen in our opponents. For this section, I have opted to compile a team made from some of the best players from opposing teams. It was a vast pool of players to choose from, so just a few notes heading into it:

1) Once again, this list is completely independent from any opinions of players, coaches, or athletic administrators.

2) Much of the selection of this list is reliant on an individual's performance against John Carroll, not their entire season.

3) This might have a slight bias for players that we may have played at home/players that I have more recollection of, since broadcasting has had me familiarize myself significantly more with players the team played against at home. With that, here are my honorable mentions!

Honorable Mentions

Josh Kirkland – University of Mary Washington
Kicking things off with a reigning First Team All-American in the Virginia-born striker Josh Kirkland. It was a symphony of destruction on the front lines of the Falcons with Kirkland and Carter Berg, and it clearly had a common theme throughout the season. He finished his season with 15 goals and 8 assists, assisting a gut-wrenching goal with 44 seconds left against the Blue Streaks. Kirkland's athleticism and technicality sets him above so many collegiate athletes, but was just beat out given the attacking talent John Carroll has come across in their season.

Jack Kossoudji – Capital University
Once again another incredible attacking personnel enters the list, this time coming from an inner-conference status. Kossoudji was a force to be reckoned with this season in the OAC, finished first in the conference in points, and tied first for both goals and assists. The Blue Streaks were no exception, of course, as the winger tallied both a goal and an assist in the Comets' 3-1 humiliation of the Blue Streaks on senior night. Possessing a vast skill set of technicality and athleticism, the Olentangy Orange graduate was a no-brainer selection onto the list.

Ben Goeller – Denison University
Moving into the center of the park, a stalwart presence in the Big Red's midfield makes the list. Playing in 19 of the team's 20 matches this season and starting in all of his appearances, Goeller is a perfect piece for Head Coach Brandon Bianco's quintessential 4-2-3-1 that mustered a conference championship, NCAA tournament bid, and a massive second half comeback against the Blue Streaks on their home turf.

Being one of the more defensive of the double pivots of the squad, Goeller tallied a single assist on the season and his efforts earned him a spot on the Second Team All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). Certainly a master of his craft and will be one to watch for the foreseeable future.

Adam Kalvitz – University of Mount Union
On the defensive side of things, Mount Union's Adam Kalvitz is one of the first to come to mind. Not only did Kalvitz show his colors in a handful of appearances for Cleveland SC in the NPSL, but Coach David Krems put a lot of faith in the fullback, starting him in all 20 of the team's matches on the season. In addition, Kalvitz would play the entire match for 12 of those matches, including two 110 minute shifts in a three-day span during the OAC tournament.

Kalvitz served a crucial role in keeping John Carroll's lethal attack neutralized, and also worked efficiently in attacking progressions; even recording three assists in OAC play. Kalvitz played for Cleveland Force SC this summer in USL2 action.

William Shaffer – Ohio Northern University
Another attacking player entering the mix, William Shaffer is another member of the OAC's star-studded attacking room. Despite the Blue Streaks earning one of their more dominant victories in recent times over the Polar Bears this season, Shaffer still shined through, being an savvy, technical facilitator up front and scoring the team's sole goal from the penalty spot late in the match.

Shaffer finished his season with commendable accomplishments— the junior had 10 goals and 6 assists, starting his season with a brace over #5 ranked Kenyon College. He had a goal contribution in seven of the team's nine OAC regular season matchups, and scored in the Polar Bear's OAC Championship victory over Otterbein. Finally in the postseason, he scored in the first 51 seconds of a penalty shootout first round win over Lynchburg, and assisted Brendan Gerver's sole goal to take down #1 ranked Messiah University in the second round. All in all, his efforts earned him First Team All-OAC and All-Region honors.

Shaffer's statistics match his talent to say the least, and it will be a blast to see what he is capable of in the Blue Streaks' last dance in the Ohio Athletic Conference next season. He has spent his summer playing for Toledo Villa FC in the USL League Two.

Omar Najjar – University of Mount Union
Keeping in the OAC family once again, the graduate student midfielder Omar Najjar glides his way into the list after a stellar fifth year with the Purple Raiders, finishing the season starting in all 20 matches, scoring five goals and assisting six.

There is a certain level of composure it takes to play as a box-to-box midfielder in a 3-5-2 like Mount Union's, and Najjar checks all of the boxes and then some. Not only is Najjar's mental game and soccer IQ make him a special player, but the way he carries himself on the pitch makes him so exciting to watch on both sides of the ball.

Fortunately I have been able to keep up with Najjar's soccer career post-college, as he is a solid player on local professional indoor team the Cleveland Crunch in the MLIS, where he finished with two goals and four assists through twelve appearances in the regular season, and even contributing in the championship series in Omaha.

Mason Taylor – Ohio Wesleyan University
With all of the great goalkeepers the Blue Streaks have come across this season, it was imperative that I had at least one of them in the honorable mentions. It was a very, very tough battle for the first team goalkeeper for Taylor, as the goalkeeper had one of the best individual performances of the season in the Battling Bishops' 3-1 loss to the Blue Streaks earlier in the year. Taylor finished that game with a season-high nine saves, one of which from a shot by Patrick Koenig which I characterized as "the best save I have ever seen in real, live time" (which I still stand by about eight months later, by the way).

Along with that performance, Taylor finished 6th across the NCAA in save percentage (.882), tied 8th for shutouts (10), and 14th in goals-against average (.588). This earned him First Team All-NCAC and First Team All-Region selections; more than deserved accomplishments for a fantastically skilled keeper.

All-Opponent XI

GK Casey Thompson – Otterbein University
It truly was splitting hairs for the starting spot in my All-Opponent XI between the two keepers, but the Otterbein keeper Thompson succeeded in a feat that not many have done before. Thompson and his defensive line shut out the Blue Streaks not once, but twice this past season in two crucial matches.

The Cardinals gave the Blue Streaks their first conference loss of their season at Don Shula, and defeated them back in Westerville in the OAC semifinals with a penalty shootout—Thompson getting his hands dirty in that one saving a penalty from Brenden Swann.

In the end, Thompson comfortably took home the OAC Goalkeeper of the Year award and First Team All-OAC, as well as All-Region honors for his accomplishments. Thompson was the first Cardinal to win the Goalkeeper of the Year honors, finishing the season with an obscene 0.846 save percentage (which ranked him 18th in the nation), and only conceded one goal in the eight game stretch leading up to the OAC Championship match against Ohio Northern.

LB Aguma Muhumuza – Calvin University
Kicking off the first of the back four, Calvin center back Aguma Muhumuza has had an incredible season and career with the Knights. After not being able to watch him during the 2022 campaign due to a red card suspension, expectations were high for him coming into JCU's match against the Knights in Grand Rapids, and he did not disappoint.

Muhumuza's match against John Carroll was borderline flawless, simply marred by a tough own goal that he could have done little to control otherwise. Muhumuza's versatility with a brilliant combination of size and speed made him a force to be reckoned with, and quite frankly one of the best players in the region. With this fifth-year season in the books, it will be very difficult to replace him. He finished his career with a First Team All-MIAA and plenty of recognition from his colleagues.

CB Nathan Terrell – University of Mary Washington
Another member of our second round foes in Mary Washington, AJ Terrell was a critical component in a successful defensive effort for the Falcons with their dramatic 3-2 win at the Battleground. In a team full of standout players, this was one of the pieces of the puzzles that had the coaches talking for days after the contest.

In a game that saw the most motivated Blue Streak attacking infantry in quite some time, Terrell was a constant voice of reason in a game riddled with chaos. Every move he made was well calculated, and he held down the fort for Mary Washington in the mental and physical games.

For his efforts, Terrell was named to the All-Region Second Team, and All-Conference First Team. Well-deserved accomplishments for a player of his caliber, playing and starting in all 21 matches for his side, playing over 1,800 minutes.

CB Mark Wischmeyer – Otterbein University
Another member of that Otterbein team that will haunt the program, Wischmeyer was another massive piece in Otterbein's two shutouts over John Carroll University. With his seasoned veteran attitude in the back alongside a great mental and physical game, Wischmeyer added a certain presence in the back that led Otterbein to only conceding a goal in an eight-game span leading up to the OAC Championship.

The Bloomfield Hills-born center back posed a great obstacle for any opposing attackers, and even got involved offensively on occasion with a goal and three assists under his belt during the 2023 campaign. For his efforts, Wischmeyer added OAC Defender of the Year, First Team All-OAC, All-Ohio, and All-Region accolades under his belt. His longevity has been unparalleled, only having one game where he has not started in 58 total appearances with Otterbein.

The conference is not out of the woods yet, however, as Wischmeyer will be taking his fifth year as a graduate student for the 2024 season. He continued to refine his craft in the USL2 with Oakland County FC, making a handful of appearances for the club.

RB Zak Peterjohn – University of Mount Union
Moving to the other side of the backline to round it out is the Mount Union fullback/midfielder. The North Royalton-native proved to be a significant asset for David Krems, as he logged the most minutes of any player on the team in one of the best seasons in the program's recent memory, achieving high national rankings and in the end, barely missing out on the national tournament. This was the senior's third consecutive season of leading the team in minutes, playing the full contest in all but three matches.

On the physical side of things, Peterjohn capped off an excellent performance against John Carroll University, knocking in one of the team's three goals, spending all 90 minutes on the pitch to seal a three-game goal-scoring streak in OAC play. His composure and ball-playing skills mesh well with the qualities of other defenders, and he is clearly one of the top players in the Ohio Athletic Conference. A well-deserved member of this list for me without a doubt.

CM Matthew Vatne – Case Western Reserve
Moving to the center of the park, no all-opponent XI would be complete without the presence of one of the finest players Case Western has seen in quite some time in Matthew Vatne. In a team full of brilliantly tactical structures and carefully calculated adjustments, Vatne brings that spark and energy to truly round the Spartans out. Although our battle with Case Western ended in a scoreless draw this past season, Vatne's offensive progression was still made evident. His explosiveness, quick thinking, and creativity make him a heavy burden for opposition.

After a four goal, eight assist season in 2023, Vatne added his second All-American selection, his second First Team All-Region selection, and his third All-UAA honors to his list of accolades. A clearly accomplished player and a no-brainer to start off three in midfield.

CM Kameron Kist – Denison University
From one non-conference foe to the next, Denison's Kameron Kist complements Vatne as the central midfielders in this team. Transferring from Loyola Chicago, I was very happy to see that I could call a game for him again, as he was a standout player in New Albany's run to the OHSAA State Championship in 2020 against Saint Ignatius. Despite unfamiliar territory at Denison, Kist fit into the team perfectly, complementing Ben Goeller as the double pivots in the team's 4-2-3-1. His workrate, footskills, and offensive contributions made him an excellent compliment in the center alongside Ben Goeller.

Safe to say it did not take long for Kist to have his impact, tallying three goals and an assist in the first six games leading up to the Big Red's clash with John Carroll. Kist would then assist Jake Krueger's game-tying goal and finish his season with five goals and eight assists. His efforts landed him First Team All-NCAC honors, Second Team All-Ohio, and Third Team All-Region.

CAM Christopher Schau – Calvin University
Certainly one of the cream of the crop players you will find just about anywhere in Division III, Christopher Schau has been a thorn in the side of John Carroll for the last couple of years. In what will likely be his final match against the Blue Streaks, Schau tallied two goals and assisted two more in a 5-3 win in Grand Rapids, making the Knights the first team to score five goals on John Carroll since 2014. This performance came after last year's game-winning goal to defeat the Blue Streaks with just four minutes left of regulation.

Schau's offensive contributions spanned far beyond Blue Streak territory, finishing this past season with an incredible 15 goals and 6 assists. He only had four appearances without a goal contribution, and he was named a Second Team All-American and also had All-Region honors. If there were to be an All-Opponent MVP for the season within this article, it would certainly be Christopher Schau's name etched onto the trophy.

Schau's soccer career continues beyond Calvin, as he has since played with Rapid City FC in the MLIS and also made appearances for the Michigan Rangers in the NPSL.

LW Oliver Akintade – Calvin University
From one Calvin player to the next, a team of this theme would not be complete without the addition of Oliver Akintade, a tricky, velvety winger who has presented himself as one of the best Division III college soccer players the country has seen in recent memory. Lethal in attack and cerebral in his playmaking, Akintade knocked in a goal against John Carroll both his season and last season, being another tough opponent for more than just this season.

Akintade's incredible career at Calvin saw him finish with some unprecedented statistics. Overall, Akintade played in 72 matches, starting in 69 of those and playing just under 5,000 minutes of soccer in four years. Akintade finished with 39 goals and 21 assists, delivering a whopping three seasons in double-digit scoring and two seasons with eight assists.

From the perspective of accolades, Akintade finished First Team All-Conference for all four seasons (the only player in conference history to do so), multiple MIAA Player of the Year honors, three selections to All-Region teams, and three All-American selections. A player that Calvin University will absolutely never forget.

Akintade will continue career at the University of Massachusetts for his final year of eligibility at the top flight of collegiate soccer, but his impact for the Knights will be felt for years to come.

RW Carter Hancock – University of Mount Union
To accompany Akintade on the wing, it was a must to mention Mount Union's Carter Hancock. As much as it pains me to include Purple Raiders in a list coming from John Carroll, you cannot deny a player of Hancock's caliber.

Hancock offers a great deal of qualities for his squad, giving great attacking aggression, stellar technicality, and a lot of versatility to make him a danger anywhere on the attacking end on the pitch. But what makes him such a great player above all else, however, is just how hard he works. Every run, tackle, and pressing attempt Hancock tries is done with every ounce of energy he has, and it even tired me out watching him play in Alliance, and his talents were further showcased during his season with the Cleveland Force in the USL2. Hancock is one of the few Division III players represented at that level, and doing well in doing so with two goals and an assist in 11 appearances.

Hancock finished last season high on the leaderboards in 9 goals and 9 assists alike, First Team All-OAC honors, OAC Midfielder of the Year, All-Ohio, All-Region, and above all a First Team All-American. Plenty of well-deserved accolades for such a class player.

ST Carter Berg – University of Mary Washington
There would be a player no more deserving of the striker spot of this lineup than the player that drove the dagger through the heart of John Carroll's hopes for a deep tournament run. Berg's clutch gene has shown plenty of times, but was never more evident than in their match at the Battleground against the Blue Streaks. Berg opened the scoring in the 17th minute of play, but also scored with 44 seconds left to send John Carroll home. Berg's excellent partnership with Joshua Kirkland up top added not only to his own reputation, but to Kirkland's as well. Together, the duo combined for 28 goals and 17 assists, with Carter Berg knocking in 13 and assisted 9 more.

Berg's season was filled with heroic performances, scoring five game-winning goals on the season with one in the national tournament and a hat-trick performance in the teams 3-2 win in the C2C Championship win over Wisconsin-Platteville most notably. In 21 contests, Berg recorded six separate contests with more than one goal contribution.

Berg added to his impressive list of accolades from the 2022 season, getting All-Conference, First Team All-Region, and Second Team All-American honors for a lucrative season. He now stands in with 26 goals and 20 assists in 57 contests for Mary Washington entering his senior year.

Conclusion

With such promising soccer talent on John Carroll's side of the ball and beyond, safe to say it was a successful 2023 season. With a busy, festive offseason and the preseason starting in under one month, excitement levels could not be much higher for the 60th season of John Carroll Men's Soccer.

The squad's volume of returning players and a bountiful incoming class, expect a fun season with lots of exciting content coming! If you would like to catch up with the first 59 seasons of the program, consider buying JCU alumni and Wrenford Creative founder Dale Armbruster's book Warriors: The JCU Men's Soccer Story which is now live for limited edition pre-order and set for release on September 14th. All proceeds from pre-orders benefit the program and the Warriors Fellowship.

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