BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University men's soccer team, under the direction of veteran head coach Reid Ayers, is ready to kick off the 2024 campaign.
Entering his 23rd season, Coach Ayers returns 16 letterwinners and eight Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference selections from last year's team that finished with an overall record of 7-10-2 and a 3-5-1 record in conference play. The Yellow Jackets were picked to finish seventh in this season's OAC Preseason Coaches Poll.
A fleet of forwards leads the attack for the Yellow Jackets this year including returning starters junior Max Yakym (Parma/Normandy) and Academic All-OAC junior Mike Kane (Kent/Hudson). Yakym is one of four BW returners who scored three goals last season after starting in 17 games and taking 23 shots with 10 on goal. Kane also started 17 games where he tallied two goals and two assists for a total of six points.
Alex Horak (Ravenna/Theodore Roosevelt) and Jacob Frank (Dublin/Coffman) come off strong freshman seasons and will also play a major role in BW's 2024 offense. Horak appeared in all 19 games last season and made two starts as he tallied three goals and one assist for seven total points. Frank appeared in 15 games where he took nine shots and also scored three goals.
Academic All-OAC forward Evan Scott (Powell/Olentangy LIberty) also looks to help lead the offense in his final season for the Brown and Gold after appearing in 15 games last season scoring one goal and recording one assist.
Coach Ayers's experienced midfield is highlighted by a trio of junior Academic All-OAC selections in Mathew Skladany (Cleveland/St. Edward), Owen Reyes (North Olmsted), and Ben McCauley (Tallmadge).
Skladany appeared in all 19 games and made 12 starts where he scored three goals on 26 shots last season. He also added three assists for a total of nine points: the most among all BW returners.
Reyes made 18 starts and appeared in all 19 games where he took 43 shots and scored two goals including the game-winner vs. Defiance. He finished the season with five points by adding one assist.
McCauley started all 19 games for the Brown and Gold a year ago and led all position players in minutes played. He assisted twice and took nine shots with four on goal.
Sophomore Jakob Young (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) and senior Colin Robinson (Hilliard/Bishop Watterson) will lead a young core of defenders for the Yellow Jackets this season. Young appeared in 12 games and made three starts in his freshman season where he took three shots and tallied one assist. Robinson gears up for his final season after appearing in seven games with three starts in 2023.
Sophomores Seth Warrick (Avon) and Diego Teran (Exton, Pa./Henderson) will have the opportunity to see a lot of time at goalkeeper for the Yellow Jackets in 2024. Warrick appeared in five games last season where he had two saves and a save percentage of 40%. Teran had only one appearance in 2023, but will share a lot of playing time in goal this year.
The Yellow Jackets' 2024 season begins Saturday, August 31 as they travel to Erie, Pa. to take on Lycoming (Pa.) College at the Herb Lauffer Memorial Tournament hosted by Penn State University-Behrend at Behrend Stadium at 2 p.m.
