2018-19 Men's Soccer Team
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- Year Inducted:
- 2025-26
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- Sport(s):
- Men's Soccer
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- Inductee Category:
- Team
Led by Hairston Hall of Fame Coach Alex Nichols, the 2018 CMU Men's Soccer team won the school's first-ever National Championship, defeating rival Missouri Valley College in the title game on December 1 in Irvine, California. After a 2-2 tie in regulation and overtime, the game was decided on penalty kicks, with CMU coming out on top 4-3. Goalkeeper Vince Gelei made a key stop before Alberto Pangrazzi converted the game-winning penalty kick to put Central in the history books. Additionally, the team won the program's first Heart Regular Season Championship and earned a berth into the national tournament, finishing the year with a 21-2-2 record and a 9-1-1 mark in the Heart of America. The 2018 squad featured five NAIA All-Americans, highlighted by the NAIA National Player of the Year and NAIA First Team All-American, Adrian Gutierrez. The coaching staff was named the United Soccer Coaches Association Staff of the Year, and Head Coach Alex Nichols was named the NAIA Coach of the Year.
Team members include Head Coach Alex Nichols, assistant coaches David Macsicza and Marc Russell, graduate assistant Rafael Ortiz Ferreira, and volunteer assistant Ricardo Olaya.
Players on the squad included Harry Porritt, Kim Schwensen, Vince Gelei, Santiago Sierra, Andrea de Simone, Connor Blitz, Wilfried Nyamsi, Jordan Vancauwenberge, Luc Alvarez, Rodrigo Paredes, Junior Kazeem, Adrian Gutierrez, Guzman Pery, Aivars Emsis, Colin Horn, Victor Luengo, Alejandro Izaga Ibarrola, Andras Szaraz, Saad Mohacht, Fabio Tarnowski, Marcos German, Daniel Hernandez, and Alberto Pangrazzi.
