Photo: St. Bonaventure Athletics
BY: SAMUEL WEILERT, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The St. Bonaventure Men’s Soccer team capped off their 2024 season this past Saturday with a 5-1 defeat to 10-3-4 conference rival UMASS, finishing with a 6-8-3 record. While they didn’t reach their goal of making the Atlantic 10 playoffs, players on the team said they will look fondly back on the memories they made together.
Senior forward Umechi Akuazaoku expressed his gratitude for the group of teammates he was blessed to be a part of for all his four years at Bonaventure.
“It’s sad that I’m signing out, but it was a great four years that I will cherish for the rest of my life,” said Akuazaoku. “It’s definitely going to be difficult to replace the camaraderie and leadership of the seniors, but I have trust in the guys that we’ve left behind.”
Junior goalie Nicolas Pucci said the camaraderie of the team meant a lot to him. “This is the closest group of guys I’ve ever been a part of, I didn’t think it was possible for a team to be this close,” says Pucci. “We’re not just a team we’re a brotherhood, these guys that I’m on the team with are going to be my buddies for the rest of my life.”
Another point of emphasis the players made was that they had lots of trust in the next generation of Bonaventure soccer players.
“Neshawn Sutherland, a right winger played really well throughout the season in clutch moments and I’m excited to see how he progresses,” Pucci said.
Senior striker Andres Javitt also raved about Sutherland.
“He should be very interesting in terms of ability and skill for our future teams,” Javitt said.
Four-year starter and senior defender Keegan Dawson praised midfielder sophomore Luc Finelli for his contributions.
“One of our strengths this year was our depth, from younger guys like Luc Finelli,” said Dawson. “We joked and called him a Swiss Army knife because he can play anywhere and step up.”
Andres fondly remembered his 87th-minute bicycle kick game-winner against Robert Morris.
“We were in a downward stretch, and we needed to get a win,” Javitt said. “It was crazy to watch myself on Sports Center the next day.”
Umechi reminisced on his 83rd-minute game-winner away in the rain against Quinnipiac.
“It was a huge moment,” said Akuazaoku. “I ripped my shirt off and was going crazy.”
Dawson highlighted the importance of senior night and what it meant for the team.
“Seniors that wouldn’t usually play and have been here all four years really shined in that Bucknell game,” said Dawson.
Nicolas Pucci mentioned the team’s conference win against Davidson.
“Our first A10 win against Davidson was a big moment for us,” said Pucci. “They were a strong team and we proved a lot to ourselves and to the other teams in the A10 that we’re a team to be reckoned with.”
From its 2022 season where the Bonnies didn’t record a single conference win to today, Dawson said he’s seen immense improvement in the team’s culture.
“The culture and camaraderie we built throughout my four years showed a real improvement, from not winning a game in the conference to completely changing the culture of our program,” said Dawson. “The reputation of Bonaventure soccer in the A10 is no longer that of a pushover school.”
weiler24@bonaventure.edu
