UMW Men’s Soccer Advances to Semifinals in Salem, Dec. 1

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Note to editors: To connect with players for profile pieces, please contact Assistant Director of Athletics Clint Often at (540) 654-1743 or coften@umw.edu.

The UMW men's soccer team poses at its recent game against Ohio Wesleyan. Having advanced to the NCAA semifinals for the second time in the team's history, the Eagles are the only public university and Virginia team still standing in the final four. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.
The UMW men’s soccer team poses at its recent game against Ohio Wesleyan. Having advanced to the NCAA semifinals for the second time in the team’s history, the Eagles are the only public university and Virginia team still standing in the final four. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.

FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA – The University of Mary Washington’s men’s soccer team has advanced to the NCAA semifinals for the second time in program history. Led by five seniors from Virginia, the Eagles are the only public university and Virginia team still standing in the final four, and ready to represent their home state in Salem, Virginia, on Dec. 1. The team of 31 includes 27 players from the commonwealth, including several student-athletes from Arlington, Leesburg, Richmond, Springfield and Stafford. To view the full lineup, visit the UMW Men’s Soccer Roster.

A few standouts:

Senior forward Josh Kirkland from Richmond was named Offensive Player of the Year for the second straight year and was named Virginia Lottery UMW Male Athlete of the Month in October and September. He led UMW to the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference championship, and scored eight goals in six games in October, as UMW went 5-1 during the month. He ranks 14th nationally in goals scored, 21st in goals per game and 33rd in points per game.

Diego Guzman shows the crowd some love during the UMW men's soccer game against Ohio Wesleyan. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.
Diego Guzman shows the crowd some love during the UMW men’s soccer game against Ohio Wesleyan. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.

Kirkland was joined on the first team by sophomore forward Carter Berg (Reston, Virginia/South Lakes) and senior defender Jacob Kautzman (Springfield, Virginia/South County). Senior midfielder Abel Luwis (McLean, Virginia/Hearts of the Lord) and senior goalkeeper Griffin Hemmendinger (Norfolk, Virginia/Granby) were named to the second team.

The full roster includes (number, name, position, class year, height, hometown/high school):

1 Griffin Hemmendinger GK Sr. 6-5 Norfolk, Va. / Granby
2 Sammy Amorose F/M Fr. 5-7 Jacksonville, N.C. / Colonial Forge
3 Frankie Gutierrez B Fr. 5-10 Sterling, Va. / Park View
4 Matias Bonarriva B/M Fr. 5-9 Springfield, Va. / Robinson
5 Jordy Santana M So. 5-10 Chantilly, Va. / Chantilly
6 Jacob Kautzman B Sr. 6-2 Springfield, Va. / South County
7 Aidan Shell B Jr. 6-2 Charlottesville, Va. / Albemarle
8 Diego Guzman M Jr. 5-8 Alexandria, Va. / Thomas Edison
9 Carter Berg F So. 6-0 Reston, Va. / South Lakes
10 Gadsoni Abel M Sr. 5-8 Fredericksburg, Va. / Massaponax
11 Juan Vargas M Jr. 5-11 Leesburg, Va. / Broad Run
12 Julian Schmugge M Jr. 6-1 Towson, Md. / Loyola Blakefield
13 Alex Keehan B So. 5-11 Appomattox, Va. / Home schooled
14 Nathan Terrell B Jr. 5-8 Glen Allen, Va. / Godwin
15 Marcos Gallegos M Fr. 5-8 Mechanicsville, Va. / Mechanicsville
16 Nelsar Castillo M Jr. 5-3 Falls Church, Va. / Falls Church
17 Brad LaGrua M Fr. 5-6 Waynesboro, Va. / Wilson Memorial
18 Abel Luwis M/F Sr. 5-11 McLean, Va. / Hearts of the Lord
21 Michael Lenhard M Fr. 6-2 Stafford, Va. / Brooke Point
23 Evan Fidler M/B So. 5-11 Richmond, Va. / Mills Godwin
24 Will Rissing B Jr. 6-0 Great Falls, Va. / Paul VI
25 Edres Fekrat M Fr. 5-10 Stafford, Va. / North Stafford
26 Elyass Fekrat M Fr. 5-10 Stafford, Va. / North Stafford
27 Josh Kirkland F Sr. 6-1 Richmond, Va. / Deep Run
28 Will Thompson F So. 6-0 Arlington, Va. / Gonzaga
29 Hayden Swinehart M/F Fr. 5-9 Williamsport, Pa. / South Williamsport
30 Tristan Kickbush GK/F Fr. 6-1 Arlington, Va. / Yorktown
31 Peyton Garst GK So. 6-2 Richmond, Va. / Collegiate
32 Altan Murray GK So. 6-0 Vienna, Va. / Oakton
35 James Rollison M/B Fr. 6-4 Leesburg, Va. / Tuscarora
41 Thomas Homa M/B So. 6-5 Edgewater, Md. / Archbishop Spalding
UMW men’s soccer player Nelsar Castillo (16) makes a run during last year’s NCAA tournament. Donations made during Mary Wash Giving Day help support UMW athletics and so much more. #MaryWashDay #TogetherUMW
UMW’s Gadsoni Abel takes action on the pitch as Mary Washington’s men’s soccer team beats Ohio Wesleyan in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.
Carter Berg takes possession of the ball during the NCAA UMW men’s soccer game against Ohio Wesleyan. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.
Abel Luwis (18) shows off his technique during the UMW men’s soccer game against Marymount. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.

With the quarterfinal win over Bowdoin, the Eagles improve to 13-4-4 on the season, giving Head Coach Jason Kilby his 250th career victory.

If recent games are any indication, the upcoming matches will be thrilling down to the wire. The Eagles advanced through penalty-kick shootouts twice in recent matches, both in the NCCA tournament against Amherst and in the Coast-to-Coast championships against Christopher Newport University.

For more Mary Washington men’s soccer news, visit the Eagles Men’s Soccer page.