By: Andrew Sismour '16
BEREA, Ohio – When the Baldwin Wallace University men's soccer team opens its season on September 1 against non-conference opponent Bluffton University, senior midfielder Nick Gallo (Richfield/Revere) is hoping his final season of soccer is a healthy one.
During the preseason of the 2014 season, Gallo dealt with a lingering groin injury. After getting numerous opinions from team trainers and doctors, he knew he wouldn't be able to make it through an entire season, so he decided to shut it down.
"It was a tough decision, just shutting myself down for the entire season after all of the work I put in in the summer," said Gallo, an accounting major in BW's 3:2 Master's of Accounting program. "I had a grade two strain of my groin, and there was no way I could have even played with the injury even if I wanted to."
Gallo was required to do five months of rehab before he was cleared to touch a soccer ball again and then he had to go through one more month of soccer specific rehab before he was cleared for full contact. But it was watching the games from the sidelines that was the toughest part for him.
"Not playing this season was one of the most difficult experiences in my life," said Gallo. "I had such a close relationship with last year's senior class. All of the hours we put in on and off the field since the day we came in together as a freshman class, and then eventually not being able to experience senior night with them. It was hard to have to sit there and be unable to play along side them."
Fortunately for Gallo, he would have been at BW this academic year regardless. Since the 3:2 Accounting MBA program allows a student to accelerate his/ her studies and earn both a bachelor's and a master's degree in five years.
"Knowing I would be enrolled in classes for the 2015-2016 school year, it made the decision easier to just red-shirt in 2014 and utilize my last year of eligibility during my fifth academic year in 2015," said Gallo, who has appeared in 50 career matches for the Yellow Jackets.
Yellow Jacket Head Coach Reid Ayers also is happy to get Gallo back.
"We [the entire coaching staff and team] are extremely happy to get Nick back," said Ayers, the winningest men's soccer coach in school history with 144 victories. "He has matured both as a player and team leader.
"We really missed him last season," continued Ayers. "Having him back is awesome for the entire program.
He brings experience and is a student of the game," said Ayers. "Nick is always analyzing the game and strategy. He is a leader and an organizer who has an excellent soccer IQ and helps to get the rest of the team in the right places. He is going to be a big asset."
The three-year letterman has been through a lot in his four years here at BW. He's done everything from dealing with season-long injuries, making the school's first-ever NCAA Division III National Tournament appearance as a freshman, and playing in all 21 matches as a junior.
Having appeared in 16 games as a member the 2011 NCAA Division III national tournament team, Gallo knows exactly what it takes to get back to the tournament.
"Everyone is going to need to take care of their bodies this off season and come into training camp fit and ready to play," said Gallo. "We have multiple guys that can contribute to this program but we need to focus on buying into the system presented to us and take it one game at a time. The OAC is not going to be determined by one game and we need to have a high level of focus to bring the program its first OAC title in school history."
Gallo is coming off an exceptional showing during BW's trip this spring to Italy. The trip featured three matches in eight days versus excellent competition from semi-professional Italian clubs. He was able to control the midfield, score three goals and add an assist. He expects to post similar numbers on the field this season.
"It was a wonderful trip and we played well as a team," said Gallo. "I am looking forward to getting to camp, getting back into the swing of things and leading this team to a winning season, an OAC title and a return trip to the NCAA tournament."
The Yellow Jackets open the season on Tuesday September 1 when they travel to Bluffton and play the Beavers at 5 pm in the second game of a women's and men's doubleheader. BW opens its home schedule against Cleveland cross-town rival Case Western Reserve University on Wednesday, Sept. 9 on Tressel Field at The George Finnie Stadium at 7 p.m. The 2015 OAC begins on Saturday, October 9 when BW hosts Muskingum University in the second game of another women's and men's twinbill at 3:30 p.m.