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Santiago Solari Returns to Visit ������Ƶ

Santiago Solari was 17 years old and just out of high school when he arrived at then ������Ƶ College in Fall 1994.  He only spent one semester at ������Ƶ before returning to his native Argentina where he began a professional soccer career that included playing for River Plate in Argentina as well as Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan. But ������Ƶ remained an important inspiration in his life.

"I was very young and there are moments in your life when things get ahold of your heart,” Solari said. “I needed to figure out what I was going to do. Being here opened my mind to living in a different country with different points of view. It was a perfect moment for me.”

Now the head coach for Club America in Mexico, Solari returned to ������Ƶ on Sept. 12 with his family to tour the campus and marvel at how it had changed.

“I do recognize the trees,” he said, standing at the current soccer field and viewing the area where he played. “I am thrilled to be here. It grew so much.”

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Women's Soccer Wins ECAC Championship

������Ƶ scored twice in the last 28 minutes and defeated William Paterson 2-0 to win the 2021 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) championship. The Ospreys won the ECAC title for the sixth time in program history (2021, 04, 03, 02, 99, 93).

������Ƶ freshman Emily Hauck was chosen MVP of the ECAC Tournament and joined on the All-Tournament Team by Jessica Heitmann, Sydney Williams and Susan Porambo.

The match was scoreless into the 63rd minute when Maddie Klein broke through for her fifth goal of the season with an assist by Erica Dietz for the eventual game-winner.

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Esports Team Wins EGL Call of Duty Tournament

������Ƶ Esports team members Ryan Andjel and Tyler Langan won the Esports Gaming League (EGL) 2v2 Call of Duty Vanguard Search and Destroy tournament held Thanksgiving weekend.

������Ƶ began competing in Call of Duty in the fall of 2020.  Andjel, a Business Studies major and Langan, a Criminal Justice major, also both qualified for season playoffs in their respective leagues earlier this fall. The tournament was sponsored by the Philadelphia Union soccer team and the students won tickets to a game and jerseys.

������Ƶ lost 2-0 to Team VSAT but made a convincing 2-0 comeback against West Chester University, advancing to the grand finals.  ������Ƶ again met Team VSAT in the grand finals for a contentious rematch, dropping the first of three rounds.  ������Ƶ fought back, ultimately clenching a 2-1 victory over Team VSAT, and securing the tournament win.

“I am so proud that I was able to represent ������Ƶ and bring home a tournament victory for ������Ƶ Esports,” Andjel said.

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McCombs Voted NJAC Defensive Player of the Year; All-Region by United Soccer Coaches

Senior James McComb was New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Defensive Player of the Year and NJAC First Team for the 2021 season.

McCombs earned his second straight NJAC First Team selection following a Second Team nod in 2019. After missing time early in the season due to injury, the back contributed defensively by helping ������Ƶ post shutouts in seven of the 12 games in which he appeared and limiting to opponents to one goal in two other matches. He became the fourth player in ������Ƶ history to be named NJAC Defensive Player of the Year.

McCombs, along with senior midfielder Sydney Williams of the women’s soccer team, were selected for by the United Soccer Coaches. Both players were chosen for the All-Region IV Second Team in their respective sports.

McCombs became the 32nd Osprey in ������Ƶ men's soccer history and first since 2015 to earn All-Region status. He is the second member of his family to receive an All-Region nod in a ������Ƶ uniform, joining his father Jim McCombs who was All-Region Third Team in 1993.