Links: 2024 Roster | 2024 Schedule | 2024 Coaches | 2023 Statistics
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – The scent of a fresh collegiate athletic season brings about infinite possibilities.
There are new student-athletes to welcome into the program who are hungry to make an impact, the returners are wiser and possess more well-rounded skill sets and the coaches get to put all their game-planning into action and see the results of the diligent offseason work.The Williams College men's soccer teamisready to take full advantage of this new chapter with a diverse range of student-athlete experiences, as the Ephs begin their2024 season on Tuesday, Sept. 3, with a 4 p.m. game at Wheaton in Norton, Massachusetts.
"We could not be more excited for the 2024 season," said head coach Steffen Siebert, who is entering his third year in the role after spending one season as interim head coach. "The program had our first official spring season this year and it was a huge success in terms of individual and team improvement, but also in regards to continuing to build a strong program culture based on the principles and values of the Williamsmen's soccerfamily. The student-athletes and coaches are eager and excited to meet this season head on and to tackle the challenging games."
Under Siebert's leadership over the last three seasons, the Ephs have compiled a 25-15-15 overall record. The 2022 team reached the semifinals of the NESCAC Tournament, and then made a run all the way to the national championship game after winning four NCAA Division III Tournament games and advancing in one off penalty kicks. It was the program's third-ever appearance in the national title game and first since 1995.
At the conclusion of the 2022 season, Siebert was named National Coach of the Year by the New England Soccer Journal. During that same year, Nick Boardman '23 and current senior Ben Diffley were recognized as D3soccer.com First Team All-Americans. Additionally, Diffleygarnered D3soccer.com Goalkeeper of the Year accolades.
Current student-athletes David Armini, Keel Brissett,Sam Gibson, Martin Gonzalez, Felipe Gutierrez, Connor Huleatt, Dylan Kelemen, Mohamed Keussom, Henry Kirkman, Tate Michelson, Evan Vasquez, David Wang, Dan Zhang and Diffley were members of the 2022 team that reached the national championship game.
"What makes this year interesting is that we have an amazing mix of veteran student-athleteswho have played in the national final, as well as highly talented younger first and second-year team members," said Siebert. "As exciting is welcoming our incoming class, which brings extraordinary talent and character."
The Ephs compete in 15 regular season games, with 10 being in theNESCAC and six occurring at Cole Field.Williams will play a night game under the lights at Farley-Lamb Field against Hamilton on Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. The unit will compete in non-conference games against Wheaton (Sept. 3), Union (Sept. 17), Western Connecticut State (Sept. 22), Cortland (Oct. 6) and Keene State (Oct. 21).
"Williams men's soccer is always looking to challenge itself, andas a result,we have a tough out-of-conference schedule and pride ourselves as consistently having one of the toughest schedules in the country," said Siebert. "This coupled with the tough NESCAC play will certainly make for an exciting season."
Williams' home opener and first NESCAC game takes place on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 1 p.m. against Tufts on Cole Field. The squad plays itsLittle Three rivals, as Amherst comes to Williams on Sept. 14 at noon, and then the Ephs travel to Wesleyan for a 2:30 p.m. showdown on Oct. 12.The team will honor itssenior class during a noon game against Bates on Oct. 5 at Cole Field.
"Every team goes into the season wanting to win as many games as they can," said Siebert. "And while that is certainly important, there are two primary expectations for us. The first expectation is that each student-athlete on the Williams men's soccer team understands that he is representing the Williams College community as well as the Williams men's soccer alumni. This includes not just on the field of competition, but how we conduct ourselves off the field. The second expectation is that our team is competitive in every game that we play in. If we meet those two expectations, then there is no doubt in my mind that 2024 will be another amazing season."
The 2024 team features 22 returners and seven first years. The other returners besides the ones mentioned on the 2022 team are sophom*ores Andrew Coelho, Kellan Grace, Griffin Labonski, Leon Ma, Spencer Mix, Atticus Ross, Jeff Stauffer and Beck Walthers. The newcomers feature goalkeeper Kai Darrell,Alex Bethencourt, Ben Brown, Chase Caires, Ali Coleman,Lorcan Mitchell and Luca Ruta.
The team will be led by senior captains in Diffley, Gutierrez, Michelson and Zhang.Bill Schmid returns for his third season as an assistant coach, while Sam Edge begins his first year as a volunteer assistant coach.
"Our culture, though it may sound cliché, is truly a family," said Gutierrez. "We live by a long-standing mantra: 'Run for Yourself and Run for Your Mates.' This principle guides us every day, both on and off the field."
Last season, the Ephs finished 8-6-2 overall, as Diffley was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region I Third Team. Diffley, Zhang, Michelson, Gibson, Keussom and Kirkman were named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team. The Ephs lost Michael Davis and Eamon Gara Grady to graduation last season. Gara Grady was a NESCAC All-Conference Second Team honoree in 2023 and Davis played 36:56 of relief action and did not allow a single goal against Wesleyan on Oct. 14, 2023.
Williams utilized a balanced attack in 2023, as 16 student-athletes registered at least one point, featuring Coelho (3 goals, 2 assists), Keussom (2 goals, 4 assists), Stauffer (3 goals), Gibson (1 goal, 2 assists), Labonski (1 goal, 2 assists), Mix (2 goals), Gara Grady (1 goal, 1 assist), Kirkman (1 goal, 1 assist), Vasquez (1 goal, 1 assist), Huleatt (1 goal), Kelemen (1 goal), Michelson (1 goal), Wang (1 goal), Diffley (1 assist), Grace (1 assist) and Zhang (1 assist).
"What I am looking forward to the most is to see everything we have been working on come to fruition and how dangerous we can be with some of the changes we have made andour new incoming class of student-athletes," said Michelson. "Everyone isfired up and ready to go. The squad we have this year has a real opportunity to make a deep run, and I amexcited to get things rolling."
In 2024, the Ephs are dedicated to remaining steadfast intheir core principles.
"An important value is the emphasis on continuous learning and growth," said Siebert. "One of the keys to be successful is to look at any obstacle thrown in our direction, whether it be team or individual,and use it as an opportunity to learn something valuable and improve rather than becoming reactive or externalizing blame. Another key is implementing elements that continue to make the Williams men's soccer program a highly enjoyable environment and a place where student-athletes can be part of a family, can compete and enjoy themselves. Finally, we need to understandthat each season is newand the team dynamic is always shifting and evolving, and it is crucial that we allow for that natural progression to take place and adapt to what the team and each individual student-athlete needs."
Written by Trevor Wenners
Manager of Athletic Statistics and Record Keeping
tw11@williams.edu
