Coming off a season that was guided by a plethora of senior experience, the Wilmington men's soccer team will look a lot different in 2015.
Gone are 10 seniors, including All-OAC first team selection Martin Holmquist and three-year captain Daniel Wicks.
"The 2015 season promises to be an exciting season with a very challenging non-conference schedule and as always, one of the toughest conference schedules in the country," said Wilmington head coach Bud Lewis.
Leading the attack will be senior Nick Toney (Morrow, OH/Little Miami), an All-OAC selection. He is the top returning scorer from a season ago, and will be helped by senior Ethan Zimpfer (Botkins, OH/Botkins) and sophomore Grady Garrison (Cincinnati, OH/McNicholas).
The midfield, which lost four seniors, will be anchored by senior captain Jesse Buhrman (Westlake, OH/Westlake). Burhman, who played in all 19 games with 11 starts, has been a solid member of the rotation for two years. Juniors Pablo Martinez (Clarksville, TN/Northeast) and Alec Rivers (Ross, OH/Ross) could earn a regular spot in the rotation. Sophomore Tahj Sho-Johnson (Princeton, WVa./Princeton) moved from the gridiron to the pitch and transfer Steve Bissell (Youngstown, OH/Poland Seminary) "promised to bring a very creative and dangerous attacking presence to Wilmington's midfield play".
The Quaker defense will be led by sophomores Nils Asterberg (Ojersjo, Sweden/Porthalla Gymnasium), Chris Bourque (Batavia, OH/Batavia), Wes King (Zanesville, OH/West Muskingum) and junior transfer Colt West.
Junior Nick Baker (Indianapolis, IN/Decatur Central) is the lone returning keeper on the roster, and will be pushed by three newcomers.
Freshmen Benny Spirk (Wilmington, OH/Wilmington), Jason Altmayer (Bethel, OH/Bethel Tate), Zach Simpkins (Middletown, OH/Valley View), Niklas Martensson, Nick Lattessa (Lund, Sweden) and James Wilbers (California, KY/Campbell County) will get a good look and opportunity to fills the holes of our graduating seniors.
