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Clarkson University Athletics

2024 CU Men's Soccer Season Preview

EndoIT23
Gary Mikel

Men's Soccer | 8/27/2024 1:52:00 PM

Under first-year coach Augusto Lima and assistant Colby Walker, the Clarkson University Men's Soccer team barely missed a beat from its previous seasons in 2023, as the Golden Knights went 9-5-1 last year. Despite such a strong record, the Green and Gold missed the postseason, something the team looks to rectify in 2024.

Lima and Walker will be joined by Zack Appel and Demba Ba, a pair of first-year assistant coaches, and the Golden Knights open the season against St. John Fisher this weekend at Hantz Field.

Clarkson will be without a bit of its scoring punch from a year ago, as Liberty League First-Team All-Star Nolan Grady, who led the conference in scoring during league-only games, has departed via graduation. However, grad student Eric McKean returns for another season following his breakout campaign. After missing 2020 due to COVID cancellation and playing less than 150 minutes over the course of the next two years, McKean started all 14 contests in 2023 and earned Liberty League All-Star notice by ranking second on the team in goals (4) and points (10). Joining McKean as a grad student and potential scorer is Hudson Lewis, a Division II transfer from Erskine College, who led that team with seven points on three goals and an assist last season.

Last season, the team allowed less than a goal per game, giving up just 13 in 15 contests, following up 2022 when the squad gave up just 12 goals in 16 matchups. That success has come from both strong goalkeeping and an equally adept defensive corps. Junior goalkeepers Josh Morelli and Carter Kladstrup have combined for 16 shutouts since arriving on campus, and both boast goals against averages below 1.00. Backing up the pair of juniors is freshman Sam Pacifico.

The Knights should be strong in the back again with defenders and defensive midfielders aplenty. Both Kai Endo and Tayte Wong earned all-conference honors last year, and that duo should provide the Knights with a steadying influence. Seniors Logan Drake and Remi Ufheil have also shined on defense over the years. Drake has started 33 times in three seasons, playing in 45 games, while Ufheil played huge minutes at the end of the 2022 season when the defense became thin due to injury. Sophomore Parker Gamble will also look to add to the defense.

Clarkson has plenty of newcomers on defense and the defensive midfield. Cole Mueller, Pieter Broerse, Lars Stephensson, Jassem Khlouf, Evan Schultz, Morgan Burke, and Felix Freed all add depth to the team's back line and in the midfield. Mueller, Burke, Stephensson, and Freed could see significant minutes right away.

The Golden Knights' midfield also has some solid returners. Kyle Otis, who led the team in minutes last season, will continue his hybrid role of defense and midfield. Several others are going to see increased roles as well. Jay Jezioro, Luis Cervantes, Josh Conklin, Tristan Gilbert, and Jonathan Dereka all had big moments in 2023 and should see their responsibilities upped with another year of experience under their belts. Dylan Jasey will end up missing the season due to injury, but Clarkson has a strong group of newcomer to rely on. Junior transfer Daniel Medina comes to Potsdam via Wheaton College (MA) and may have a starting spot in 2024. Both Brody Frankowski and Josh Baraka are first-year collegians for the Knights, and both boast significant potential for 2024 and beyond.

The forward spots have plenty of experience in the way of the transfer Hudson Lewis, as well as Jack Donnelly and Zach Shufelt. Ryan Brazell looks to add more minutes to his profile, and first-year Paul Rolland is likely to contribute right away in 2024.


 
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Players Mentioned

Ryan Brazell

#22 Ryan Brazell

F
5' 8"
Sophomore
Josh Conklin

#6 Josh Conklin

M
5' 7"
Junior
Jack Donnelly

#9 Jack Donnelly

F
6' 0"
Junior
Logan Drake

#15 Logan Drake

D
5' 11"
Junior
Kai Endo

#34 Kai Endo

D/M
5' 10"
Junior
Tristan Gilbert

#24 Tristan Gilbert

M
5' 8"
Sophomore
Nolan Grady

#3 Nolan Grady

M
5' 11"
Senior
Carter Kladstrup

#13 Carter Kladstrup

GK
6' 2"
Sophomore
Eric McKean

#10 Eric McKean

M
6' 0"
Senior
Josh Morelli

#1 Josh Morelli

GK
5' 11"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Ryan Brazell

#22 Ryan Brazell

5' 8"
Sophomore
F
Josh Conklin

#6 Josh Conklin

5' 7"
Junior
M
Jack Donnelly

#9 Jack Donnelly

6' 0"
Junior
F
Logan Drake

#15 Logan Drake

5' 11"
Junior
D
Kai Endo

#34 Kai Endo

5' 10"
Junior
D/M
Tristan Gilbert

#24 Tristan Gilbert

5' 8"
Sophomore
M
Nolan Grady

#3 Nolan Grady

5' 11"
Senior
M
Carter Kladstrup

#13 Carter Kladstrup

6' 2"
Sophomore
GK
Eric McKean

#10 Eric McKean

6' 0"
Senior
M
Josh Morelli

#1 Josh Morelli

5' 11"
Sophomore
GK