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 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.
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.
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.
