The 2023 Kalamazoo College men's soccer team has arrived on campus and begun pre-season workouts that will lead to the road season opener on Sept. 1. The Hornets will look to improve on their sixth-place finish in the MIAA after going 2-2-3 in the conference and 5-8-6 overall in 2022.
Schedule Breakdown
- The Hornets will play two neutral site games in Wheaton, Ill., against Principia and Wis.-Platteville on Sept. 1-2 to open the season.
- The next four non-conference games will be at home against two NCAA DIII and NAIA teams on Sept. 5-12.
- Three of the final four non-conference games are scheduled to be on the road against another two NCAA DIII and NAIA teams on Sept. 16-30.
- The Hornets' conference opener will be on the road at Olivet (Oct. 3), with the first home game following against Trine on Homecoming weekend (Oct. 7).
- Other MIAA home contests include Alma (Oct. 14) and Calvin (Oct. 21), while Hope (Oct. 11), Adrian (Oct. 17), and Albion (Oct. 25) are on the road.
Roster Breakdown
- Kalamazoo brings back 18 players from the 2022 squad and will add another eight new members for 26 total in 2023.
- Three seniors from last year's team returned to take advantage of their extra season of eligibility due to Covid-19. Five more seniors join that class, and the Hornets will be heavy in upperclassmen with another eight juniors.
- Two players returned for their sophomore season, and the team added eight newcomers to the program for their first collegiate soccer season.
- The roster is constructed with three goalkeepers, five defenders, two defenders/midfielders, four midfielders, seven midfielders/forwards, and four forwards.
Returning Statistical Leaders
- The Hornets return three All-MIAA Second Team members, including Emilio Romo, the leading scorer last season. Romo finished with four goals, an assist to total nine points, and two game-winning goals.
- Paul Kearis started all 19 games in the midfield for Kalamazoo and was crucial in moving the ball from the defensive to the offensive zone. Shun Yonehara was also a second team member with Kearis in the midfield.
- In net, Gavin Houtkooper returns after being just one season removed from an MIAA Newcomer of the Year and All-MIAA First Team selection in 2021. Last season, Houtkooper finished with 47 saves, a .712 save percentage, a 1.17 goals-against average, and four shutouts.
- Nine of the 10 Hornets that scored a goal last season are back, as the team lost just two main contributors, one being in the midfield and the other in the back line.
- Other main starters from last season that are back are Luke Bormann, Chad Ewing, Jaden Buist, Jake Lynett, and Colin Halloran. The main contributors off the bench that returned are Michele Alia, Aidan Gillig, Henry Plumstead, Jordon Larco, Aidan Baas, and Jeremiah Heath.
Stepping Up
- Those midfielders that came off the bench will compete for the starting spot left behind by Tony Yazbeck, including Alia, Gillig, Larco, and Heath.
- The lone All-MIAA First Team member from last season, Travis Barclay, has also graduated. Barclay leaving means there is a spot open in the back line that could be filled by Zach DeVito, who was a transfer last season.
- All the newcomers will have an opportunity to make their mark as Cam Daly comes in as a forward, Eamonn Burns and Antoine Kondracki come in as defenders, Jack Kreckman comes in as a goalkeeper, and Junior Matuza, Ben Battreal, Tony Mares-Viveros, and Lucas Ruiz come in as midfielders.
Head Coach Lumumba Shabazz
Coach Shabazz returns for his 12th season as head coach of the Hornet men's soccer team. He has compiled the second-most wins in school history (93) while leading Kalamazoo to n 93-73-26 record overall. He has five seasons with 10 wins or more, including 12 in 2014, the most in a season since 2003 when the team had 14 wins. During his time at Kalamazoo, 25 different players have been All-MIAA selections.
Quoting Coach Shabazz
"This year is a huge one for us because we are returning quite a few players who were limited by injuries last year. I expect Emilio Romo to rediscover his scoring touch, Paul Kearis, Shun Yonehara, Michele Alia, and Aidan Gillig should bolster our midfield, whilst Colin Halloran and Gavin Houtkooper will help to create a solid foundation in our defense. We also expect many of our incoming players, like Lucas Ruiz, Cam Daly, and a few others, to have an immediate impact on our roster. By no means are they the only ones. We have a talented bunch and we are very excited to see them compete."