Delhi Men's Soccer concluded their 2023 regular season last weekend and are eager to make a return to the North Atlantic Championship after last season's double-overtime defeat. The Broncos, led by head coach E.J. Reutemann in his third season, will face the third-seeded Eastern Nazarene Lions at SUNY Poly at 6:30 PM in the NAC West Semifinal match.
Men's Soccer had a historic regular season in 2023, marking their second consecutive year with more than 10 wins, finishing with a (10-2-4) overall record. Delhi started the year with a four-match winning streak, their best start in the NCAA era. After a mid-season stumble, the Broncos finished strong, winning every match in October, including an eight-match wins in a row. The Broncos' streak extends to 10 unbeaten matches, outscoring their opponents 50-5 since September 19th.
The green and gold's high-powered offense ranks second among all NCAA Division III teams, averaging 3.75 goals per game, and is third overall in assists per game with 3.75. They scored 60 goals and recorded 44 assists in 16 matches.
Freshman phenom Roberto Velasquez-Osorio ranks second in NCAA DIII with 23 goals, the highest number achieved by any Bronco in a single season. He had an outstanding first year in the green and gold, leading the NAC in goals, total points, and game-winning goals. He is also the third-highest scorer in Division III with 51 points.
Joining Velasquez-Osorio on the attack, newcomer midfielder Jaquan Williams had an excellent first year. After starting his season halfway through, Williams scored seven goals and provided five assists in just nine appearances. Additionally, junior Erik Kleczkowski has been a significant factor in the midfield, playing a pivotal role in both the attack and defense with five assists and one goal.
To complement the attack, the Delhi defensive unit has been equally impressive, recording 10 shutouts while allowing only 8 goals in 16 games. This performance ranks them among the top five in DIII for goals allowed per game. The backline combo of Vaughn Bottex, John Walsh, Matt Serrao, and Michael Stone all played pivotal roles, anchored by goalkeeper Jon Walch.
Other standout performances this season include senior Anthony Cuellar, who contributed five assists and three goals, junior Michael Williams Jr. with six goals, and Eric Manta, who assisted on five goals.
The Broncos are scheduled to face Eastern Nazarene on Saturday, October 28th, at SUNY Poly at 6:30 PM EST in the first round of the NAC tournament. These two teams met once in the regular season, resulting in a scoreless draw on September 24th.
