men’s soccer – The Transcript

Men’s soccer team wins NCAC title in dramatic fashion

By Kienan O’Doherty, A&E Editor

After one of the most exciting games in recent North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) memory, the Ohio Wesleyan men’s soccer team captured its 10th championship.

In a classic rivalry matchup between the second-seeded Battling Bishops and the top-seed Kenyon College Lords, the teams battled to a 0-0 draw after extra time, meaning the tournament would be decided by penalties.

After sophomore goalkeeper Mike Heeschen kept the Lords at bay throughout both regulation and extra time, notching five saves in 110 minutes, head coach Jay Martin leaned on sophomore J.P. Baughman to go in goal for the shootout.

“We planned on doing that since the very beginning,” Martin said. “Since high school, [Baughman] has been a very good penalty stopper.”

Baughman lived up to his reputation, saving three shots to keep the Bishops alive, and all the while setting up junior midfielder Jack Shadoan for the winning penalty. Shadoan converted, and the Lords missed their next penalty wide, earning the Bishops the tournament title. The win also gave the Battling Bishops an automatic birth into the NCAA tournament.

Baughman received the Most Valuable Player award in the tournament for his efforts. Four Bishops were named to the All-NCAC tournament team: Shadoan, Heeschen, Baughman and senior back and captain Trey Olsen.

It finally seems the Bishops are hitting their stride at the perfect time, and junior midfielder and captain Will Sharer believes that complacency is key:

“We need to keep working hard in practice and doing the little things that will make a difference in the games,” Sharer said. “I think if we can keep our hard working and defense first mindset then we can make a run in the [NCAA] tournament.”

The Bishops traveled to University Heights, Ohio for their first round matchup against John Carroll University, who beat the Bishops 5-4 in double overtime earlier in the season. Senior midfielder David Robinett said hethinks the team learned a lot the last game, and can’t wait to play them again.

“We learned that we need to play hard for the full 90 minutes, so that’s what you should expect this time,” Robinett said. “We know that we’re a talented team and we’re excited to come back and get revenge.”

Martin said he believes the Bishops can take on anybody in the tournament, including John Carroll.

“I’ll tell you what, I don’t think they want to play us,” Martin said. I think they want to play some other team.”

The first round matchup will take place on Friday, Nov. 10, at 5:30 p.m. at John Carroll, with the winner playing either Calvin College or Thomas More College on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.

Vigils held in remembrance of Luke Gabbert

Transcript Staff

Luke will never be forgotten.

This was said by Carson Miller, an old friend of Luke Gabbert’s, as well as several others in the wake of his body being found just off of Ohio Wesleyan University’s campus late Saturday morning.

There are certain things that bring the OWU community together and one of those things is tragedy. On the night of Gabbert’s death, students gathered on The Hill for a vigil in his memory.

Delta Delta Delta sorority member senior Megan Ryan put it out to students soon after hearing the news. As word spread quickly over 300 students gathered to grieve with the community they all share.

Gabbert was a soccer player, a pledge of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity (Phi Psi) and a member of Athletes in Action. All of these communities he touched were present at the vigil. Students braved the cold to honor his memory.

Students and members of the OWU community had the opportunity to light a candle and write a prayer on white paper bags that were lined around The Hill. They were able to remember Luke and the things he loved.

Gabbert’s neighbor Julie Feasel said, “He was always smiling and just last Sunday I saw him leaving his house with a big smile on his face.”

Students were seen comforting each other holding hands, giving hugs, and consoling emotions with comforting words. At one point everyone was circled all the way around the Hill holding hands in a moment of silence for the deceased.

At the end of the vigil the attendees walked around the circle on the hill to look at the prayers and messages people wrote for Luke. Messages read “Miss you roomie” and “Rest in Peace Luke.”

Director of Mission, Chad Johns, Director of Greek Life, Susie Long, and the President of Phi Psi Doug Dodridge all spoke to the students in attendance, comforting them and thanked everyone for coming.

Associate Chaplain Lisa Ho said, “The vigil was a beautiful illustration of all that is good about the OWU community. It was the strength of community coming together in the midst of tragedy to honor a young life lived well.”

“We only had four lighters, not realizing that we were going to light 315 candles,” said Ryan. “Four people showed up together, 10 people showed up together, entire sororities and fraternities showed up together, sports teams gathered, and then just like that, almost 400 people were gathered together, crying, holding hands, and being there for each other.”

Ryan said she hopes to make a collection of the bags and give them to the Gabbert family. “Luke truly touched so many lives,” she added.

Photo courtesy of Marco Ventresco. — Photo courtesy of Marco Ventresca.

A memorial for Gabbert was also held at Pioneer Field at his high school on Saturday, Feb. 6 with over a hundred people attending.

“Everyone was hugging each other a little tighter last night. He touched all our hearts and was with us in spirit. He is looking down on us letting us know it is okay,” said Marco Ventresca, Gabbert’s friend from elementary school days.

A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up to help Gabbert’s family with the funeral costs.

The GoFundMe was created by a friend of the family, Jody Spriggs, in an effort to make the process even the slightest bit easier, said Ventresco.

OWU men’s soccer coach Jay Martin was open to talking about one of his former athletes. A long time coach of Gabbert, he said he is sad to see such a talented kid go. Martin was not only his coach at OWU but had also worked with Gabbart on the field during summer soccer camps.

Martin said Gabbert was studying physical education and dreamt of becoming a coach and teacher.

Martin also said the university plans to hang a banner featuring Gabbert’s name and number at OWU’s soccer field in his honor. He said the team will retire the number 19 in his honor. He wants people to know that the support from the community has been amazing and is appreciated.

Miller, who had known Gabbert for 9 years, said, “[Luke] did everything for everyone else and did not expect anything in return. He was so lovable and loving...No one is ever going to forget Luke.”

In just six hours, friends, family and well wishers of Gabbert came together to raise over $8,000 for the family to cover funeral costs. To view the GoFundMe account, click here.

UPDATE: The calling hours and Celebration of Life services will be held at Grace Church of Powell, 7600 Liberty Road, Powell, Ohio. Calling hours will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 12, with a service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13.

Barnes, Schaefer finish careers as All-Americans

Evan Walsh and Olivia Lease, Transcript Reporter and Online Editor

Ohio Wesleyan men’s soccer announced last week that two of its seniors, Brian Schaefer and Lonnie Barnes, were named (as) d3soccer.com All-Americans.

Barnes plays midfield and Schaefer plays forward for the team. Neither anticipated they’d receive recognition for one of college soccer’s most prestigious individual awards. Schaefer said it would not have been possible without the support of their teammates and coach, Jay Martin.

To be nominated for the award, Coach Martin said each school’s team nominates its players according to their team’s record. The names go into a pool and all the coaches in the division told to pick their top three (but they are not allowed to vote on their own players).

Since the men’s team had a strong record this past season, the coaches were eligible to nominate five guys, instead they only sent three.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Blake — Photo courtesy of Sara Blake

“I try to stay true to process, I know a lot of coaches who take advantage and do the full amount but to be honest with you, we didn’t have five All-Americans on the team,” said Martin.

Martin praised both having great technical skills and for being competitive but most importantly, for being good leaders.

“We had some of the best leadership we’ve ever had, at least in my 39 years, this past season and those two guys were apart of that leadership group,” he said.

Barnes said he remembered looking at the plaques of previous winners on the the wall when he was a freshman. “It’s cool to have that recognition,” he said.

“I was mostly playing to win games and help the team out as much as possible,” Schaefer said.

While neither sees themselves playing competitively in the future, their passion for the game has only grown during their time at OWU. “I love soccer … I think my career is done at this point but I may keep playing in some men’s leagues,” Schaefer said.

When asked if he had any advice for fellow college athletes, Schaeffer said, ““Just try your best honestly, and put in the work.”

In regard to post- grad plans, Martin said, “I hope they can carry over the high level of motivation they had on the soccer field to what they choose to do in their professional life.”

Barnes is from Illinois and majoring in geography. Schaefer is from New Jersey, and majoring in accounting and minoring in management economics. Off the field, both are brothers of Phi Gamma Delta.

This past season the men’s soccer team ended the 2015 with a record of 16-5-2.