msoc team pic 2022

Men's Soccer Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

No. 18 Golden Knights Debut at Home Against Strong Wilmington Team

WILMINGTON WILDCATS (1-1-1, 0-0-0 CACC) at No. 18 GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (2-1-0, 0-0-0 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME: Sunday, September 4, 2022 | 12 noon
STADIUM/LOCATION: McConnell Family Stadium l Erie, Pa.
WATCH LIVE
LIVE STATS
 
 
THE GANNON-WILMINGTON SERIES
Wilmington leads 1-0-0
 
Last Meeting:  Sept. 18, 2021 – Wilmington 2, Gannon 1 l RECAP
Gannon and Wilmington met for the first time on the pitch a year ago in a battle of nationally-ranked squads. The Golden Knights came in ranked 16th while the Wildcats were 13th. The two battled on even terms until Wilmington scored the game-winning goal by Pol Romero in the 86th minute.
 
 
ERIE, Pa. – After playing three times on the road in less than a week the Gannon University men's soccer team will play its home opener on Sunday, September 4. The Labor Day weekend match gets underway at 12 noon at McConnell Family Stadium, with a strong Wilmington (Del.) team providing the opposition in an early season regional showdown.
 
The Golden Knights come in with a 2-1-0 record after opening the season with a pair of wins before dropping a tough 1-0 contest at Ashland on Wednesday. The season began in New Jersey with a 3-2 win at Georgian Court before moving to Delaware for a 4-1 triumph at Goldey-Beacom. Then it was on to Ohio before finally returning home to face another Delaware outfit.
 
Like Gannon, Wilmington was an NCAA Tournament team a year ago. The Wildcats ended the year at 16-4-1, including a 2-1 win over Gannon in the first-ever meeting between the two teams. Also like the Golden Knights, the Wildcats were eliminated in the second round of NCAA regional play.
 
Gannon has back-to-back home games and plays three of its next four games at home. The Golden Knights open PSAC action in the following match, hosting Seton Hill on Saturday, September 10.
 
 
Golden Knights Highly-Regarded Entering 2022
Gannon entered the 2022 campaign with high expectations after posting a 16-3-3 overall record and finishing at 7-1-2 in the PSAC West. The Golden Knights reached the PSAC Championship game and finished as the runner-up, then tied Millersville 2-2 in double overtime in the second round of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional. The Marauders moved on after prevailing on penalty shots 4-3. After finishing 18th in the final United Soccer Coaches Top 25, Gannon begins the year ranked 18th in the preseason poll. In addition, Colton's crew was tied with Mercyhurst for first place in the PSAC West preseason poll. Gannon is in search of its third straight NCAA Tournament bid.
 
All-American Del Castillo Paces Strong Group of Returnees
Senior midfielder Sergio Del Castillo (Madrid, Spain) earned plenty of postseason accolades, culminated by a spot on the United Soccer Coaches All-American Third Team. The native of Spain led the team in goals (12) and points (29). He has scored a pair of goals early in the season, and nearly accounted for the tying goal late in the Ashland match.
Four other players have scored a goal apiece, including freshman midfielder Sverre Orten (Orsta, Norway). The native of Norway has a goal and a team-high two assists to tie Del Castillo with four points.
Del Castillo is one of four returning Golden Knights to earn All-PSAC West accolades. Sophomore defender Bautista Corti (Manuel Alberti, Argentina/Adultos 2000) was named the 2021 PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Year along with earning first-team all-conference honors as a freshman.
Midfielder/forward Joe Knox (Gold Coast, Australia/The Southport School) is a third returning first-team selection after finishing with five goals and a pair of assists for 12 points.
Midfielder Toby Gower (Norwich, England/Long Stratton) was a second-team All-PSAC West honoree.
Senior forward/midfielder Tinashe Katsande (Norwich, England/Dereham Sixth Form College) finished with 10 goals and two assists for 22 points, good for second on the team. The native of England picked up an assist against Georgian Court and scored a goal vs. Goldey-Beacom.
David Synstelien (Gjovik, Norway/Gjovik Vinderegaende), another Norwegian, has been in goal the first three games, registering 11 saves with a 1.33 GAA and .733 save percentage.
 
Scouting Wilmington
Wilmington is off to a 1-1-1 start after going 16-4-1 and reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament. After a season-opening 4-0 loss at Adelphi, the Wildcats tied American International, another NCAA Tournament team, 1-1 two days later. This past Wednesday, they posted an impressive 3-1 decision over sixth-ranked Millersville, yet another NCAA tourney squad. Wilmington jumped out to a 3-0 lead and Millersville's lone goal was actually an own goal in the final seconds. The Wildcats were chosen as the preseason favorite in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. Junior midfielder Marius Skattum Dahl has a team-leading two goals after earning second-team All-CACC honors a year ago. Marcus Hedemann and Evan Stevely have each scored a goal. Bas Markus, a lanky 6'7" sophomore, has played all three games in goal with a 2.00 GAA and .684 save percentage.
 
Next for the Golden Knights
After playing four games in the span of nine days Gannon will have some time off before heading to the pitch again to host Seton Hill on Saturday, September 10. The 6:00 p.m. match at McConnell Family Stadium will mark the first PSAC contest for 2022.
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Bautista Corti

#5 Bautista Corti

D
6' 2"
Sophomore
Sergio Del Castillo

#10 Sergio Del Castillo

M
5' 11"
Senior
Toby Gower

#8 Toby Gower

M
5' 9"
Senior
Tinashe Katsande

#7 Tinashe Katsande

M/F
6' 2"
Senior
Joe Knox

#9 Joe Knox

M/F
6' 1"
Graduate Student
International Management
Sverre Orten

#23 Sverre Orten

M
5' 8"
Freshman
Business Administration 

Players Mentioned

Bautista Corti

#5 Bautista Corti

6' 2"
Sophomore
D
Sergio Del Castillo

#10 Sergio Del Castillo

5' 11"
Senior
M
Toby Gower

#8 Toby Gower

5' 9"
Senior
M
Tinashe Katsande

#7 Tinashe Katsande

6' 2"
Senior
M/F
Joe Knox

#9 Joe Knox

6' 1"
Graduate Student
International Management
M/F
Sverre Orten

#23 Sverre Orten

5' 8"
Freshman
Business Administration 
M