Photo: St. Bonaventure Athletics
BY: LAYNE HAUGHT AND AIDAN SHINNERS, STAFF WRITERS
With national, foreign and local talent filling the St. Bonaventure men’s soccer roster over the years, some former Bonnies soccer graduates have put their playing careers in the past while others still have the dream of competing professionally.
Mitch Wambach, a defenseman for the Bonnies from 2020-2024, began working as a tax consultant for PwC Boston after graduating. Wambach is the nephew of U.S. women’s soccer legend Abby Wambach.
Wambach described his Bonnies teams as close-knit groups of players who created life-long bonds.
“I met some of my best friends playing soccer,” said Wambach. “They truly are a family to me.”
Wambach’s favorite moment of his college career was upsetting #23 Davidson 1-0 in 2021. Wambach said he still supports the Bonnies when he can, attending the men’s soccer game at Rhode Island on Sept. 28.
Norwegian midfielder and 2021 graduate Fredrik Graham Hansen played 55 games for the Bonnies, starting 41 and totaling 21 points, including eight goals.
Hansen is currently back home in Oslo, Norway, working in finance in the oil and gas industry, but his passion for soccer hasn’t left; he is currently playing for FC Oslo, a 3-Division team in Norway.
“We are trying to get promoted further up the league system,” said Hansen.
In just 19 games for FC Oslo, Hansen has already scored four goals.
Class of 2022 defenseman John Engerman played four seasons at Bonaventure, scoring one goal — a game-winner against St. Francis in 2021.
Engermam, now an analyst in the U.S. Virgin Islands government, still plays soccer at a high level, he said.
“Pro soccer has shared priority with my business career,” said Engerman. “I still train and play with the U.S. Virgin Islands national team.”
Engerman has played in 14 games with the Virgin Islands national team, including six World Cup qualification matches.
Engerman said he loved playing under the lights of the Marra Athletic Complex.
“My favorite part was the camaraderie within the squad,” said Engerman. “We were like a big family.”
Team spirit was something mentioned by all three players as to why they loved playing for the Bonnies men’s soccer team.
“My favorite part about playing for the Bonnies was that the team spirit stayed the same with all the different classes through the years,” said Hansen.
haughtlr24@bonaventure.edu, shinnead24@bonaventure.edu
