By Katrina Kowitz, Staff Writer
Newman’s men’s soccer team is having one of its best seasons in recent memory and has qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2018, when the Jets played in the Lone Star Conference Championships. Not only that, but several members of the team have broken school records and earned conference recognition.
“It has been a record-breaking season,” junior Gustavo Dias Juliani said. “We are writing our name in Newman’s history.”
Though the team ended its regular season with losses to No. 16 Fort Hays and No. 22 Southern Nazarene University, Newman has secured a No. 4 seed in its post-season tournament. The team will open tournament play against Southern Nazarene tonight in Bethany, Oklahoma.
The team ended its regular season with a 8-9-1 record, the best record for the soccer team since 2019.
Throughout the course of the season, several individual players also set records and earned accolades.
On Oct. 24, the Jets played Ouachita Baptist, winning 4-1 at home. During that match, senior Alberto Romano completed a hat trick, which is three goals scored in the same match. Romano also scored two penalty kicks and broke the school record for goals scored in a season during the match against Ouachita Baptist and points scored in a season Oct. 26 against Harding.
Then, during an Oct. 31 match vs. Roger State in Claremore, Oklahoma, Romano broke another record for most shots on goal in a season.
“Breaking this record is something that I set myself to achieve but I knew it would not be easy,” Romano said.
The previous goal records were held by Carlos Bellosta Manchon and Ed Jabbari, who each scored 10 goals in 2023 and 2019, respectively. Manchon and Luca Anelli held the record for most points in the 2023 and 2015 seasons. Manchon also held the record for most shots on goal at 27.
Romano currently has 12 goals and 25 points. On Oct. 29, The Great American Conference also named Romano the Offensive Player of Week for the second time this season.
“Winning this award twice makes it special because I was able to achieve this accomplishment during senior day week, so my parents were able to attend both games and I was able to enjoy my accomplishments with them,” Romano said.
Romano also leads the Great American Conference with 49 shots and 29 shots on goal. He’s second in the conference in goals and points.
Other players also had strong seasons.
On Nov. 2 vs. Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Juliani broke the school record for most assists in a season. He assisted three of the four goals, for a total of 10 assists on the season.
“Breaking the record has helped me to expect better for the upcoming games,” Juliani said. “This is one of my best seasons as a player in statistical numbers”.
The previous assists record was set by Felix Tellez Ramirez, who had seven in the 2023 season.
Several Jets also were nominated and earned ALL-GAC honors. They were:
First team:Alberto Romano, senior
Second team: Seniors Caio Tascheto and Paulo Villalobos and juniors Gustavo Dias Juliani and Gabriel Dias Juliani
Honorable mention: Juniors Gibran Villalobos, Gael Gonzalez and Cameron Schroder and senior Juan Carlos Cordova
PHOTO: Courtesy, Newman Athletics
