As disappointed as the University of Mary Washington men’s soccer team was after its 1-0 loss to Washington College (Md.) in the Sweet 16 of last year’s NCAA Tournament, there was a prevailing notion that it wasn’t the Eagles’ last dance.
So far this season, that belief is looking more like a premonition than a prediction.
Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over visiting St. Mary’s College of Maryland kept UMW (10-0-1) unbeaten. The Eagles entered the week as the No. 1 team in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III Top 25 rankings — a position they’ve held three weeks in a row.
UMW’s players and its head coach are hardly surprised by the continued success, however. The Eagles are a veteran squad, with 29 players returning from last year. Additionally, they have 17 who saw action on their 2022 Final Four team.
“Honestly, I think this season’s [success] started years ago,” senior forward Carter Berg said. “We have a super-experienced team with a lot of guys who are taking their grad year and a lot of seniors. We laid the foundation for the culture that we’re experiencing now three or four years ago.”
Berg is one of nine seniors on UMW’s roster — seven of whom saw playing time a season ago. Those numbers are also true for the graduate-student portion of the Eagles’ roster.
“Whether it’s in practice, in the dining hall or wherever we’re at, we get along and we work well together,” Berg said. “Each day, we know that for a lot of us, this is going to be our last time playing competitive soccer. We don’t want to waste it for one another.”
UMW’s Carter Berg pursues the ball during a match earlier this season. Berg and the Eagles are ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division III men’s soccer poll. (Photo courtesy of UMW Athletics)
UMW head coach Jason Kilby expanded on Berg’s thoughts.
“These guys push each other all year long,” Kilby said. “Whether it’s during the season or not, they demand a certain level of consistency from one another in the way they practice and train. To me, that’s the biggest reason why they are where they are.”
Berg is a poster child for both the Eagles’ experience and consistency. He’s started 64 out of a possible 69 matches in his career, finishing second on the squad in scoring in each of his first three seasons. He’s also currently second in scoring this year, having tallied five goals and three assists for a total of 13 points.
Fellow forward Sammy Amorose has netted eight goals and dished out three assists for a team-high 19 points.
“Sammy and I are having great seasons,” Berg said. “I’m loving playing up front with him. … He’s a very dynamic player.”
“We’re both goal-hungry,” a smiling Amorose added. “We just try to put ourselves in great spots and give our teammates the best opportunities to serve us the ball.”
UMW’s attack doesn’t just revolve around Berg and Amorose, though. The Eagles have four other players, all midfielders, with at least nine points. Nelsar Castillo leads the pack with 11 points, while Joel Albritton, Gabe Francesconi and Jordy Santana have nine each.
“I’m impressed with how many goals we’re getting from those guys,” Berg said. “We had a really good team last year, but we were getting most of our goals from forward. Now we’re getting goals from all over, which makes us harder to defend.”
Berg’s assessment rings true. UMW had just five players total nine points or more last season.
At the other end of the pitch, goalkeeper Freddy Rogers has stonewalled the opposition. The senior from High Wycombe, England, has surrendered just eight goals and pitched three shutouts while starting all 11 games for the Eagles.
“He’s not only very consistent, but he’s one of our leaders,” Kilby said. “He’s very good with the guys, both in the locker room and on the field.”
Rogers isn’t taking much credit for UMW’s success. Instead, he boils it down to, you guessed it—the camaraderie the Eagles have built over the years.
“It’s not just about what a team looks like on paper and its ability,” Rogers said. “It’s about how they are together off the pitch and around campus. This environment is really good, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
