Ledy by Elorm Dogbey and Zach Burgmeier, the Wilmington College men’s soccer team had five players with Ohio Athletic Conference post-season honors.
The men earned five OAC honors while the women had four.
Abby Spirk and Taylor Huffman were named second team All-OAC while Lauren Galloway and Mackenzie Weaver garnered honorable hention All-OAC honors. The four individuals to earn All-OAC recognition is the most for the program since 2010.
Huffman, an All-OAC honoree as a freshman in the fall of 2019, led the Fightin’ Quakers offensively with five goals three assists and 13 points. Spirk scored one goal and dished out one assist in the spring season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Galloway, who alongside Huffman was named to the All-OAC tournament team last weekend, played all but a half in goal for Wilmington. The sophomore made 80 saves while surrendering just 17 goals and was a part of four shutouts.
Wilmington finished the 2021 spring season with a 5-4-2 overall record and a fourth-place finish in the OAC. The Quakers hosted and won an OAC Tournament game for the first time in over a decade.
For the men, Dogbey was named Forward of the Year, and Burgmeier was named Defender of the Year.
Ian Molfenter also earned first team honors. Both Brady Shapiro and Yusef Muqtadir were given honorable mention All-OAC. The five individuals to earn All-OAC honors mark the most in a single year since 2006 and the first time the program has had three tirst teamers since 2004.
“It’s amazing to see these guys recognized for all their hard work and dedication they’ve put into our program,” said WC men’s coach Alex Van der Sluijs said. “This conference is so difficult, so it’s especially humbling to have the representation we have here. I absolutely love this team.”
Dogbey, named to the All-OAC tournament team last weekend, led Wilmington offensively with five goals, four assists and 14 points. Molftenter was the other Quaker to tally double-digits in points (10) on four goals and two assists.
“Elorm receiving this award makes me emotional,” said Van der Sluijs, who was Wilmington’s last individual to win the award in 2006. “He is the best example of believing in the process. From not playing at all his freshman year to having the impact he did this season is remarkable. I don’t think I’ve ever coached a player that has learned and developed so fast. The best is yet to come for him.”
Burgmeier and Shapiro, both of whom contributed offensively with eight and six points respectively, anchored a Quaker defense that shut out five opponents on the season.
“I am so honored to coach Zach and be a part of his development into the player and teammate he is,” Van der Sluijs said. “He is such a talented soccer player and we’ve used him at about every position. He was a monster all season at left back and is so deserving of this award.”
Wilmington finished its 2021 spring season with a 7-3-1 overall record. The Quakers qualified for their first OAC tournament since 2012 and won their first postseason contest in 15 years.
