COLUMBUS, Ohio – The 2021 edition of Capital University Men's Soccer will feature a mixture of veteran leadership in several key returners and an abundance of youth and inexperience joining the team. Head coach
Alan Yost will be tasked with finding the balance to help push his team back into contention for the Ohio Athletics Conference Championship -- a trophy they claimed just three seasons ago in 2018.
Last Season in a Nutshell
Capital finished their abbreviated spring campaign with a 4-6 record and an exit in the OAC Tournament Quarterfinals at the hands of Wilmington College. The team started the season brightly, defeating Baldwin Wallace and Heidelberg by a combined margin of 7-1. Unfortunately for the Purple and White, they would hit a buzz saw as they dropped their next five matches by a combined margin of 9-0. Yost's men would get back to winning ways to clinch a spot in the postseason by defeating Wilmington and Otterbein to round out the regular season. Unfortunately, Wilmington flipped the script in the tournament and knocked off Capital 2-1.
For his efforts during the season, freshman
Jack Francisco was named All-OAC Second Team and to the OAC All-Tournament team. Joining him with postseason recognition were
Mitch Hughes (second team) and
Matt Scheper (honorable mention).
Top Returners
All three All-Conference players return this year, including Francisco, who led the team in scoring as a freshman. In 10 matches, Francisco scored six goals and assisted on one other. Hughes will be back in the lineup as one of the team's main facilitators in the center midfield. Last season, Hughes scored once, but primarily played the role of general in midfield. Scheper, will be returning for his fifth season and will hold down the lines in front of goal.
Sophomore goalkeeper,
Kellen Sargent will be the veteran in goal this season and returns after starting all 10 games as a freshman. He conceded 13 goals and made 28 saves enroute to a 4-6 record.
Additional players to assist on both sides of the ball this coming year include
Jack Kossoudji,
Chase Geddis,
Bailey Lach, and
Mujahid Abdel-Ghani. Many others who saw valuable minutes last year return this season as well, providing many other options on the team sheet.
New Faces in the Crowd
Yost's coaching staff remains unchanged this year, but 14 freshmen will enter the fray, pushing for their name to be called week after week. Many of the new recruits come to Capital familiar with the soccer scene as several hail from the Columbus or Cincinnati area.
In the Polls
The Purple and White was slated in the coach's preseason polls to finish the year fifth with 44 points. Defending champions John Carroll were slated first with 81 points and nine first place votes. Marietta, who was picked second with 70 points received the other first place vote.
Season Schedule
Capital will start the season on the road at Defiance's early season tournament on September 3rd and 4th. First, Cap will play the hosts Defiance and then face Wooster on Saturday. The team then stays on the road for their third game at Oberlin on September 7th before coming home for their home opener on September 11th. Washington & Jefferson will pay a visit to Columbus for a 3 p.m. kickoff.
The team will round out their non-conference schedule by facing Denison on the road and then hosting Wittenberg, Case Western Reserve and Ohio Wesleyan by the end of September.
OAC play starts on October 2nd at Baldwin Wallace for a 7 p.m. kick. CU will then play Heidelberg away before coming home for two straight vs. John Carroll and Marietta. Rounding out the season, Capital will travel to Mount Union, Ohio Northern, and Wilmington and host Muskingum and Otterbein in the final stretch of the regular season.
