BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University men's soccer team under the direction of veteran head coach Reid Ayers is ready for kickoff.
Coach Ayers returns 20 letterwinners, one All-Ohio Athletic Conference player and six Academic All-OAC performers from last year's team that went 6-12-2 with a 0-8-1 mark in the OAC.
Leading the attack will be senior Academic All-OAC Shaheen Ghahremani (Streetsboro) and junior Michael Tusick (Strongsville).
Ghahremani appeared in 20 games and made eight starts last season. He tied his career-best with one goal and set a career-best with one assist for a career-best three points. He took 12 total shots with three on goal.
Tusick appeared in 20 games and made 11 starts. He was tied for third on the team with a career-best three goals. He was tied for second on the team with a career-best two assists and was tied for second on the team with a career-best eight points. He took 37 shots with 20 on goal.
The midfield will lean on the experience of senior Nick Surowicz (Medina/Highland), junior Julian Kieres (Lakewood) and sophomore Tommy Buser (Akron/Revere).
Surowicz appeared in 16 games and made 15 starts. He was second on the team with a career-best four goals and was tied for second on the team with a career-best eight points. He took 25 shots with 14 on goal.
Kieres appeared in and started all 20 games. He led the team with a career-best seven goals and career-best four assists. He led the team with a career-best 18 points. He took 49 shots with 19 on goals. He was named the team's Offensive MVP.
Buser appeared in 20 games and made 12 starts. He was tied for third on the team with a career-best three goals. He tallied a career-best one assist and he was fourth on the team with a career-best seven points. He took 43 shots with 22 on goal. He was named team Rookie of the Year.
The defense will be anchored by senior All-OAC and Academic All-OAC Trevor Hamm (Strongsville).
Hamm appeared in and started 19 games. He was fifth on the team with a career-best two goals for a career-best four points. He took 12 shots with five on goal. He was selected to the Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association All-Ohio third team and Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association Academic All-Ohio first team. He was named the team Defensive Player of the Year and earned the team Captain Award.
Holding down the net will be sophomore Zoltan Nagy (Lakewood/St. Edward).
Nagy appeared in and started 12 games with a 4-7 record. He led the team with 45 saves and posted three shutouts. He was named the OAC Defensive Player of the Week on September 20. He was also a team Rookie of the Year.
BW opens the 2022 season on the road September 1 when it travels to Wooster to take on The College of Wooster. The home opener is on September 3 when the Yellow Jackets host Chatham (Pa.) College. BW opens up OAC play when it hosts Marietta College on October 1.
