College Sports
Bochen Joins Vimmerby HC in Sweden’s HockeyAllsvenskan
Story Links WALTHAM, Mass. – Two-time All-Atlantic Hockey defenseman Nick Bochen has signed with Vimmerby HC in Sweden’s second division, HockeyAllsvenskan. Bochen was a first team All-Atlantic Hockey selection for Bentley this past season and was a finalist for the AHA’s Best Defenseman award. He had six points in Bentley’s postseason […]

WALTHAM, Mass. – Two-time All-Atlantic Hockey defenseman Nick Bochen has signed with Vimmerby HC in Sweden’s second division, HockeyAllsvenskan.
Bochen was a first team All-Atlantic Hockey selection for Bentley this past season and was a finalist for the AHA’s Best Defenseman award.
He had six points in Bentley’s postseason run, including one goal and one assist in the championship game win over Holy Cross. He was named to the All-Tournament team.
On the season, Bochen had nine goals, 21 assists and was second on the team with 30 points.
In three seasons in Waltham, he tallied 20 goals and 54 assists in 109 games.
Vimmerby is in the southeast of Sweden, about 190 miles south of the capital Stockholm.
Bochen earned his master’s degree from Bentley in business analytics.
College Sports
Alex and Abby Newhook realize pro hockey draft dreams together
Feature Photo: IG / @abbynewhook Just over six years ago, Abby Newhook sat beside her brother, Alex, at the 2019 NHL Draft, wondering what a similar moment might be like for herself. She no longer has to wonder. Abby, then 16, remembers exactly what she was thinking while sitting alongside the entire Newhook family when […]

Feature Photo: IG / @abbynewhook
Just over six years ago, Abby Newhook sat beside her brother, Alex, at the 2019 NHL Draft, wondering what a similar moment might be like for herself.
She no longer has to wonder.
Abby, then 16, remembers exactly what she was thinking while sitting alongside the entire Newhook family when Alex was selected 16th overall by the Colorado Avalanche at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
“When I was sitting in those stands, I kept thinking, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if we had this for women’s hockey?’ Being at Alex’s draft and seeing everything he went through and dreaming of something like that for the women’s side – the fact it became a reality is just amazing. It almost leaves you speechless.”
On June 24, Abby was drafted 34th overall by the Boston Fleet at the PWHL Draft.
It was a surreal moment for Abby, who became just the second player from Newfoundland and Labrador to be drafted into the PWHL, following Maggie Connors of the Toronto Sceptres.
“It was so awesome,” said the 22-year-old, who played four seasons with Boston College, captaining the team in her final two years. “My family was all there, my agents were there, nine of my friends – seven girls from Boston College and two girls from back home – were there, too.”
Alex, 24, now with the Montreal Canadiens, was one of the first to congratulate his sister when her name was called.
“The most memorable part of the draft for me was when Abby got drafted to Boston,” said the centreman, who raised the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022. “It was such a special moment for her and our family.”
Abby, who was named the Hockey East Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Year in 2021–22 and a finalist for the WCHA National Rookie of the Year, was thrilled to share her big day with her brother.
“I am so glad he was able to be there for me at my draft, to be able to experience that with him, and also having gone through that, he gave me so many great tips and pieces of advice, sitting beside me the whole time and reassuring me that everything was good.
“It’s a super-exciting event and they did an amazing job putting it on. You have no idea where you are going to end up. There were definitely some nerves, and it felt like 20 minutes between each pick, when it’s really own two minutes. But I was more excited than nervous.”
Not long after the draft, side-by-side ‘then and now’ photos of the Newhook siblings at their respective drafts made the rounds on social media.
“When I saw that photo, I thought, ‘That seems like forever ago,’” said Abby. “It’s wild.”
Looking back, Abby is proud of the path that led her to the PWHL – and is thrilled to be going from fan to player in the league.
“I have been lucky enough to play with girls in the league – Hannah Bilka, Cayla Barnes, Abbey Levy – and some other some Boston College alums like Megan Keller and Alex Carpenter, who I have been lucky enough to watch over the past few years.
“It’s not only great to have a league for young girls to aspire to play in, but also to see the league expand the number of teams because of its great fan base.”
It’s a dream come true – and one Abby still can’t fully believe.
“It was unbelievable. I still feel I haven’t totally processed it. But to wake up the next morning and realize it was real – that was the best feeling. It makes you want to start things right up now.”
For now, she’s taking time to rest before ramping up training ahead of the 2025–26 PWHL season.
Abby will also be back on home ice soon, joining her good friend and Toronto Sceptres forward Maggie Connors as a guest coach at Camp Connors, a girls’ hockey camp taking place at CBS Arena in Conception Bay South, Newfoundland, from July 15-18.
“Maggie is having her first-ever hockey camp, so I’m going to be there helping out the young girls who are participating in it.”
Later in July, she’ll also attend the second annual Alex Newhook & Friends Golf Classic in St. John’s. Last year’s event raised more than $113,000 for the REAL Program, Iris Kirby House and the Cancer Care Foundation – all St. John’s based charities.
It will be another chance for the siblings to reflect on an unforgettable few months.
“Abby and I have a great relationship and have always been very close,” said Alex. “We played on the same team in Atom with the Avalon Celtics, where she played up with my age group. I remember that team and the tournaments we played in very well. It was cool to be able to play together and to have those memories.”
And while Abby was always game, she didn’t exactly get the best deal when it came to ball hockey.
“Aside from that, playing ball hockey together outside our house was always fun, although I’d usually throw Abby in net when me and my buddies would play. It made her tougher, so I guess she has me to thank for that.”
Friendly jabs aside, Alex’s pride in his sister is unmistakable.
“Abby has worked so hard to get here and I’ve been lucky to watch her grow into the person and player she’s become today.
“I’m happy she ended up in Boston – it seems like a great fit and she’s super excited.”
College Sports
2024 SJC Women’s Volleyball Season Review
Story Links STANDISH, Maine – Backed by a strong mix of veterans and young players, the rapid growth of several first-years, and a landmark Senior Day win, the Saint Joseph’s College volleyball team continued its upward trajectory during the 2024 campaign. Under Head Coach Jon Roberts, the Monks posted a 15–17 overall […]

STANDISH, Maine – Backed by a strong mix of veterans and young players, the rapid growth of several first-years, and a landmark Senior Day win, the Saint Joseph’s College volleyball team continued its upward trajectory during the 2024 campaign. Under Head Coach Jon Roberts, the Monks posted a 15–17 overall record and a 10–5 GNAC mark—marking the program’s second-consecutive double-digit win season in conference play.
REGULAR SEASON:
The Monks opened the year with a series of competitive non-conference contests and gained momentum in October, reeling off five straight wins from October 12–26 over NEC, Albertus Magnus, Elms, Thomas, and Rivier. The 3–1 victory over Rivier on Senior Day marked a historic breakthrough, as Saint Joseph’s defeated the Raiders for the first time since 1999, snapping a 24-match losing streak in the series.
Saint Joseph’s finished the regular season at 14-16 overall and 10–5 in GNAC play, matching the program’s conference win total from 2023 while earning the No. 6 seed in the postseason tournament.
POSTSEASON:
Entering the GNAC Tournament as the sixth seed, the Monks made noise once again by upsetting third-seeded and reigning GNAC Champion Regis College on the road in the quarterfinals, 3–1. It marked the second consecutive year Saint Joseph’s won a postseason match. The Monks’ playoff run came to a close two days later with a 3–1 setback to perennial power Johnson & Wales in the semifinals.
Sophomore Greta Mackintosh earned All-Tournament Team honors after totaling 16 kills and eight block assists in the two GNAC postseason bouts.
NOTEWORTHY INDIVIDUALS:
Junior outside hitter Victoria Briones turned in another standout season and was named Second Team All-GNAC for the second year in a row. Despite missing eight matches, she led the team in kills (218), kills per set (2.53), digs (262), digs per set (3.05), points (255), and points per set (2.97).
Freshman Riley Greenley emerged as the team’s starting setter and played in all 32 matches, collecting 463 assists, 162 digs, 35 service aces, and 22 kills. Her efforts earned her GNAC Rookie of the Week honors twice (Nov. 4, Nov. 11).
Junior Regan Noonan was a dominant presence at the net, finishing the year ranked sixth in the GNAC in blocks per set (0.77), eighth in solo blocks (20), and 10th in total blocks (62).
Sophomores Larisa Comolli and Greta Mackintosh emerged as key contributors with promising upside. Comolli tallied 115 kills, a .180 attack percentage, 23 service aces, and 33 total blocks, while Mackintosh added 142 kills and 28 blocks.
RECORDS & MILESTONES:
Victoria Briones reached a significant milestone on November 12th during the Monks’ GNAC quarterfinal win at Regis, becoming the eighth player in program history to surpass 1,000 career digs. She also eclipsed the 600-kill and 800-point marks during the season.
Senior Hanna Webster capped her four-year career ranked among the program’s top performers, finishing third in matches played (120), fifth in attack percentage (.202) and block assists (110), eighth in total blocks (146), and 12th in both sets played (383) and kills (482).
Senior Maggie Sylvester wrapped up a distinguished career with 659 kills, 102 blocks, 2,136 total attacks, and 751.5 points. She leaves the program ranked fifth in kills per set (2.0), sixth in total attacks, eighth in total kills, and 10th in total points.
NCAA RANKINGS:
Saint Joseph’s ranked 28th in NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball in opponents’ hitting percentage, limiting teams to a .111 mark over the course of the season.
College Sports
BC Varsity Club Reveals Ten-Member Hall of Fame Class
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Boston College Varsity Club President Richard J. Schoenfeld ’74 has announced the selection of the 2025 Hall of Fame for the fall of 2025. The 10 honorees will be honored for their induction into the Varsity Club Hall of Fame on Sunday, Oct. 19. All new members will be permanently enshrined […]

The 10 Eagles inducted are Tatiana Cortez ’17 (softball), Ben Eaves ’04 (men’s ice hockey), Patrick Eaves ’06 (men’s ice hockey), Mike Gillis ’79 (men’s lacrosse), Brian St. Pierre ’03 (football), Greg Pulskamp ’90 (wrestling), Mikaela Rix ’15 (women’s lacrosse), Courtney Schaeffer ’01 (women’s soccer), Covie Stanwick ’15 (women’s lacrosse) and Mickey Wiswall ’10 (baseball).
The Varsity Club will introduce the 10 honorees at halftime of the BC football game against Connecticut on Saturday, Oct. 18, followed by brunch on Sunday, Oct. 19. Complete event details and ticket information will be available at a later date.
Inductee Biographies
Tatiana Cortez ’17, Softball – Cortez was a four-year starter for the Boston College softball team. A captain in 2016, she garnered NFCA Mid-Atlantic All-Region and All-ACC First Team accolades. Cortez followed that up with earning Second Team All-ACC honors in her final season in 2017. During her career on the Heights, she cemented herself in history as the program’s all-time leader in both home runs and RBI.
Ben Eaves ’04, Men’s Ice Hockey – Ben Eaves was a two-time captain for the Boston College men’s hockey team. A Hobey Baker Finalist in 2002-03, Eaves was named the Hockey East Player of the Year and was a First Team All-American that same season. He was also named a Second Team All-American in 2001-02. Eaves was part of the 2000-01 squad that captured the Hockey East title en route to winning the National Championship. In 126 games with the Eagles, Eaves tallied 53 goals and 116 assists for 169 points – the fifth-highest point total in program history.
Patrick Eaves ’06, Men’s Ice Hockey – Patrick Eaves also shined during his time on the ice for the Eagles. He was a two-time All-American, earning first team honors during the 2004-05 season and second team honors in 2003-04. During his time at the Heights, he helped BC capture three Hockey East regular season championships. A Hobey Baker Finalist during the 2004-05 season, he took home the Hockey East Player of the Year award while helping BC to the 2005 Hockey East Championship Eaves finished his 84-game career at BC recording 47 goals and 60 assists. After his time with the Eagles, he had a successful 14-year NHL career, playing in 633 career games.
Mike Gillis ’79, Men’s Lacrosse – Gillis was a four-year starter for the Boston College men’s lacrosse, serving as team captain for the 1979 season. As a senior, he was named to the First Team All-New England All-Star Game. Gillis set a national record as a junior in 1978. He recorded 50 saves in a game against Middlebury on April 7, 1978 – a record which still stands as the most saves in a single-game in NCAA history. During his four-year career on the Heights, Gillis recorded 697 saves, the second most in program history. In addition to Lacrosse, during his senior year, he was the head coach of the women’s hockey team, where he helped start the first women’s Beanpot in March 1979, coaching the BC women to their first Beanpot final that year.
Brian St. Pierre ’03, Football – Brian St. Pierre finished his career as one of the most prolific passers in Boston College football history. In 2002, St. Pierre quarterbacked his Eagles to a nine-win season, including a victory in the Motor City Bowl where he completed 25 of 35 passes for a career-high 342 passing yards and three touchdowns. During his time on the Heights, St. Pierre engineered 16 wins, while throwing for 5,837 yards and 48 touchdowns – all of which rank as the fifth-highest totals in program history. He received the Thomas F. Scanlan Memorial Trophy in 2001 and was invited to the East-West Shrine Game as a senior. The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted St. Pierre in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft and he went on to play in the NFL for six seasons.
Greg Pulskamp ’90, Wrestling – Pulskamp was a two-time team captain of the Boston College wrestling team. During his final season of competition on the Heights, Pulskamp emerged as the most dominant 190-pound wrestlers in the country. He won the 1990 New England Championship in his weight class en route to compiling a 34-1 record. As a senior, Pulskamp captured four different tournament titles – including the National Catholic Invitational – and was one of 32 individuals to earn a qualifying spot in the 1990 NCAA Championship. Capping off his career, Pulskamp was honored as one of the 1990 Eagle of the Year recipients.
Mikaela Rix ’15, Women’s Lacrosse – Rix finished her four-year career as one of the most decorated players in Boston College women’s lacrosse history. A three-time IWLCA All-American and Tewaaraton Award nominee, the standout midfielder earned All-ACC and IWLCA First Team All-Northeast honors in each of her four seasons. During her time with the Eagles, Rix helped the team to three NCAA tournament berths. A co-captain in 2015, Rix finished her career fifth all-time with 222 career points, second with 187 goals, and first with 219 draw controls. She was a member of the 2011 USA U19 World Championship team as well.
Courtney Schaeffer ’01, Women’s Soccer – Schaeffer was a mainstay on the BC women’s soccer defense. As a freshman, she was named the 1997 Big East Rookie of the Year while garnering All-Big East Second Team honors. In 1999, Schaeffer earned First Team All-Northeast Region and Third Team All-American honors. During her career on the Heights, Schaeffer recorded a program-best 419 saves and her 49 wins for the Eagles are the second-most in program history. During the 1999 season, Schaeffer helped BC to a run to the round of 16 in the NCAA Championship. During the Eagles’ second round shutout victory over Harvard, Schaeffer recorded 13 saves in the match – the most saves in an NCAA tournament game in program history.
Covie Stanwick ’15, Women’s Lacrosse – Stanwick was a three-time IWLCA All-American, receiving first team honors in 2015 and second team honors in 2013 and 2014. The standout attacker was a four-year starter for the Boston College women’s lacrosse team, earning All-ACC honors twice and First Team All-Northeast Region on four occasions. A co-captain as a senior in 2015, she helped lead the Eagles to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. As a freshman, she was named the 2012 ACC Freshman of the Year. A two-time Tewaaraton Award nominee, Stanwick ended her BC career first all-time with 309 points, first with 196 goals, and second with 113 assists. She was also a member of the 2011 USA U19 World Championship team.
Mickey Wiswall ’10, Baseball – Wiswall was a two-time All-ACC and ABCA All-Northeast selection for the Boston College baseball team. He finished his career ranked second in career home runs (37), third in runs batted in (152) and hits (208), and eighth in runs (133). During the 2010 season, Wiswall smashed 19 home runs while batting .301, helping the Eagles make their first ACC Championship appearance. In 2009, Wiswall was named to the NCAA Regional all-tournament honoree. That season, the first baseman logged 82 hits – which ranked second-most in a single-season at BC. Wiswall was selected in the seventh round by the Seattle Mariners in the 2010 MLB Draft.
College Sports
Minnesota high school quarterback Mason West selected in first round of NHL Draft ahead of senior season
Mason West will be the big man on campus at Edina (Minn.) this fall in more ways than one. The Class of 2026 two-sport star was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the NHL Draft last week but will be back at the suburban Minneapolis school to play football as a senior. West, […]

West, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound left-winger on the ice, is 17 and eligible for this year’s NHL Draft because he turns 18 before the cut-off date on Sept. 15.
As a junior, West led the Hornets to the state quarterfinals in football and semifinals in hockey.
On the ice, West scored 27 goals with 22 assists in 31 games. As a quarterback, he threw for 2,592 yards with 37 touchdowns against just four interceptions.
West made it clear to NHL teams ahead of the draft that he will focus on hockey after this football season.
“It’s super important for me to play this season just because I want to stay loyal to my teammates,” West said. “I made it really clear that my only goal is to win a state championship and be loyal to my teammates and my community and then head to Fargo and get going with hockey.”
West said his goals coming into high school were to win both a hockey and football state title in his career. He got the job done with his skates during his sophomore season when he had 15 goals and 23 assists for the state champion Hornets.
That same year he nearly won a state title in football. Down 28-21 with less than 30 seconds left, West threw a touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 1-point at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Hornets went for a 2-point conversion and were stopped on a play so close, it had to go to video review. Edina fell 28-27.
West has been the starting quarterback the past two seasons and has racked up 5,217 yards and 65 touchdowns. Rated a three-star quarterback prospect by 247Sports, he has earned offers from Kent State, Marshall, Miami (Ohio) and South Dakota. He is committed to Michigan State to play hockey.
Edina is a prestigious hockey school with at least 13 players drafted since 2009, including New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee.
Like West, Lee was also a prolific quarterback who won state player of the year in Minnesota during a 2008 season in which he passed for over 2,000 yards and ran for another 1,000. Lee had a bright future in both sports and was selected in the fourth round of the NHL Draft. He stuck with hockey and has 289 career goals in his Islanders career including four straight 20-plus goal seasons.
West said that Lee reached out to him earlier this year and that the two have stayed in contact.
“He is a really great guy, it was nice to really get advice from someone who kinda went through it,” West said at the press conference. “Obviously you can talk to your parents or people from the community, but it’s kind of hard to find a guy that went through the same thing.”
West has played on elite hockey teams since he was young. Three players from his Minnesota Blades 14U team from the 2021-22 season were selected in this year’s draft with nearly a dozen more committed to play at elite hockey colleges like North Dakota or Wisconsin.
Chicago’s first-round pick was a freshman at Edina in 2022-23 and immediately made an impact under head coach Curt Giles, who has won five state championships in his tenure and is a 14-year NHL veteran.
Giles played on two teams that reached the Stanley Cup Finals and has an Olympic silver medal. Playing for Canada in the 1992 Winter games, Giles scored the go-ahead goal in the third period of Canada’s semifinal win over Czechoslovakia.
West made an impact immediately for Giles. As a freshman he scored nine goals with 18 assists as Edina lost in the state championship game. As a sophomore he scored 38 points and the Hornets won the state crown. Last season he tallied 1.6 points per game and became one of the top NHL Draft prospects in the nation.
Now, he is at the Chicago Blackhawks Development Camp with his fellow draft picks before heading back to Minnesota to get ready for the football season.
College Sports
Saint Francis Women's Soccer Announces 2025 Slate
Women’s Soccer | 7/3/2025 3:20:00 PM Story Links 2025 Schedule Saint Francis women’s soccer head coach Brian Diaz has announced his 2025 schedule. A preseason training trip to Argentina, a first-ever trip to play Maryland in College Park, and seven games at the Stokes SoccerPlex highlight the schedule. The team will be playing in its […]


Women’s Soccer | 7/3/2025 3:20:00 PM
Saint Francis women’s soccer head coach Brian Diaz has announced his 2025 schedule. A preseason training trip to Argentina, a first-ever trip to play Maryland in College Park, and seven games at the Stokes SoccerPlex highlight the schedule. The team will be playing in its 40th season in team history.
The Red Flash will open the second year under Diaz on the road for the second year in a row at Maryland on August 17. It will be the first trip to College Park for Saint Francis, and it will feature former Red Flash head coach and current Terrapins assistant coach Sara Butler, who is in her second season on the staff.
It will be the ninth time Saint Francis opens a season against a team currently in a Power 5 Conference, and the first time since the 2021 campaign at Clemson. The Red Flash has also faced off against Power 5 conference teams, including Penn State (1991), Villanova (1999), St. John’s (2000, 2014), Miami (2017), and Clemson in the inaugural match of a campaign. It will be the 24th time the squad will square off against one of these teams in the regular season, owning a 1-0 win against Pittsburgh in 2003 and a 1-all standstill against the Panthers in 2015.
“As we enter the 2025 season, we are excited for our schedule,” said Diaz. “Our schedule offers a lot of unique challenges with a variety of styles of play from our opponents. The non-conference part of our schedule will prepare us for the competition we will face in the NEC.”
After the season-opening trip to the DMV, Saint Francis will continue its four-game road trip to open the year at Duquesne on August 21 for the 24th meeting between the two programs. The Red Flash is looking for its first win against the Dukes since 2012.
The road trip concludes with two games in the Buckeye State at Cleveland State on August 28 and Toledo on August 31. It will be the fifth meeting against Cleveland State, with Saint Francis looking for its first victory in the matchup since the inaugural meeting in 2005. Meanwhile, Toledo returns to the schedule for only the second time, and first since 1997.
Saint Francis will make its 2025 Stokes SoccerPlex debut against two teams from the Keystone State when Bucknell (September 4) and Robert Morris (September 7) come to Loretto. It is the 28th meeting against the Bison, with the Red Flash looking for its first win since 2013. The Loretto program holds a 21-9-3 edge against its old Northeast Conference rival Colonials, but the two teams have split the four meetings since Robert Morris joined the Horizon League.
The non-conference slate ends and starts a three-game road trip at VMI on September 14. It will be the first time the team will face the Keydets.
The 11-game Northeast Conference schedule begins on the road at Stonehill (September 21) and LIU (September 25). It will be the only time the squad has consecutive games on the road or at home for the rest of the season, with the remaining nine games alternating between home and away.
Saint Francis hosts Delaware State on September 28 before heading to New Haven for the first-ever meeting against the Chargers in their first year in the league.
CCSU (October 5), Mercyhurst (October 16), Chicago State (October 26) and Le Moyne (November 2) will make their way through Nowheresville, Pennsylvania, while the Red Flash will travel to Wagner (October 12), FDU (October 19) and Howard (October 30) in the final seven games of the regular season.
The Top 4 teams advance to the NEC Tournament, with the Top 2 teams hosting the semifinals in November and the highest remaining seed hosting the NEC Championship Game on November 9.
The Red Flash looks to return to the NEC postseason for the first time since the 2022 season and the 13th time in program history.
This season marks the 15th anniversary of Saint Francis’ first NEC Tournament championship in 2010. That season, the Red Flash lost to No. 17 Ohio State 1-0 in double overtime in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The team has also won the NEC Tournament in 2013, 2016, 2017, and played in the NEC Championship Game in 2011, 2012, and 2018.
College Sports
Michael Adedokun’s Rise at Ohio State
Ohio State senior midfielder Michael Adedokun (17) warms up before the Big Ten tournament match against Michigan Sunday. The Buckeyes defeated the Wolverines 1-0. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor It’s no secret that Ohio State is home to one of the nation’s premier athletic departments. During the 2024–25 season, the Buckeyes reached the pinnacle […]


Ohio State senior midfielder Michael Adedokun (17) warms up before the Big Ten tournament match against Michigan Sunday. The Buckeyes defeated the Wolverines 1-0. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
It’s no secret that Ohio State is home to one of the nation’s premier athletic departments.
During the 2024–25 season, the Buckeyes reached the pinnacle of collegiate competition in two of their flagship sports—football and women’s ice hockey—both of which competed for national championships.
But one of the year’s most transformative stories didn’t come from a traditional powerhouse. It came from the soccer pitch.
Ohio State men’s soccer burst onto the national scene with a historic 2024 campaign, capturing the Big Ten Tournament title for the first time in 15 years, earning the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, and advancing to the College Cup for just the second Time in program history.
Leading that charge was Michael Adedokun, a fifth-year senior transfer from Dayton, who not only anchored the Buckeyes’ turnaround but also redefined expectations for the program. He was named Ohio State’s 2025 Male Athlete of the Year, becoming a symbol of a soccer resurgence at a school where football often dominates the spotlight.
“When I won [male athlete of the year], a majority of my guys and coaches reached out to me like ‘you know football just won a national championship—that’s big time,’” Adedokun said.
Adedokun tallied 11 goals and 11 assists on the year, earning the MAC Hermann Trophy—the highest individual honor in NCAA Division I soccer—and becoming the first player in Ohio State history to receive it.
But accolades alone didn’t move Adedokun. “I don’t play for accolades, I play for the love I have for the game.”
That love for the game was the driving force behind Adedokun’s life. Raised in Eruwa, a small community in rural Nigeria, Adedokun grew up sneaking out to play soccer against his mother’s wishes. “At first, my mom didn’t want me to play. I had to sneak out. But when she finally saw me on TV, playing in a high school tournament, everything changed. That was the moment she started supporting me.”
After her passing, when he was just 15, Adedokun moved to Lagos and later earned a scholarship to play at the University of Dayton. He excelled there, but after an injury and a desire for a new challenge, he entered the portal.
“In Dayton, I was the main player, but I knew if I stayed there I wasn’t going to be the player I am supposed to be,” Adedokun said. “I just wanted to play in an environment where I can grow and become a better version of me.”
That’s when Ohio State came knocking.
The Buckeyes, who had reached the NCAA Tournament the year before, were on the verge of something special. Adedokun believed he could be the missing piece that would elevate them from contenders to a national force.
“Ohio State went to nationals the year before, and they might not be one of the best in terms of soccer, but maybe if I joined them, they would become one of the best,” Adedokun said of his decision.
His coaches quickly recognized his unique talent. While at Dayton, he was a midfield general; at Ohio State, he became a difference-maker up front. “I had to figure out how to lead differently. I wasn’t going to control the game like before. I had to be the guy who made magic happen.”
The move to Ohio State immediately paid dividends.
Adedokun was not only on pace for the best season of his career, but the team was rolling. The Buckeyes finished the regular season with only one loss and plowed through the Big Ten Tournament. They entered the NCAA Tournament as the top overall seed and surged to the College Cup.
But the dream ended in heartbreak. In the national semifinal against Marshall, Ohio State fell short—a 0-1 loss that ended their title hopes but not the legacy they had built.
Still, Adedokun walked away fulfilled.
“I enjoyed playing soccer more at Ohio State because of the guys in the locker room,” Adedokun said. “At Dayton we had 12 African guys in the locker room, and at Ohio State I was the only one—but it didn’t matter where you were from, it was a brotherhood. I became a better human being.”
Even with the season ending in heartbreak, Adedokun believes the foundation has been laid for something lasting at Ohio State—a culture shift, not just a one-year surge.
“Because of the coaching and the support from athletics, it would not surprise me if they won a national championship in the next three years.”
Off the field, Adedokun’s ambitions reach far beyond goals and trophies. A proud Nigerian, he plans to return home one day to build a bakery in his hometown—a dream rooted in his desire to uplift the community that raised him.
“Back home, people pray for daily bread,” he said. “I want to build them a bakery so they can make their own.”
Now playing professionally with Lexington SC after being drafted by CF Montréal, Adedokun continues to represent Ohio State and his community with pride. And while he’s moved on from Columbus, he hasn’t moved on from the program he helped elevate.
“If I had one more year, I would stay at Ohio State,” he said. “That’s how much I love it.”
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