HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison men’s soccer has added Jose Navarro to the coaching staff as an assistant coach, as announced by Head Coach Paul Zazenski on Thursday morning.
 
“We are thrilled to welcome Jose to our staff for the 2025 fall season,” said Zazenski. “Jose is eager to begin his Division I coaching career and brings with him all the tools necessary to succeed at the highest level of college soccer. In the fall of 2024, he played a key role in leading Iowa Western to a junior college national championship. We are excited for him to bring that championship experience tour program.”
 
Navarro comes to Harrisonburg after spending the past three seasons as an assistant coach at Iowa Western Community College. During his tenure with the Reivers, they went 45-7-8 and won the NJCAA national title this past season. Both in 2022 and 2024, the Reivers were ranked as high as first in the country during the regular season. He coached six NJCAA All-Americans during his time, including 18 all-region selections and the last two regional player of the years.
 
From 2023 on while at Iowa Western, Navarro also served as the head coach for Nebraska Roots 2013B II and the JV head coach at Buena Vista High School.
 
Zazenski added, “Jose also boasts a strong playing background at both the collegiate and professional levels. We look forward to him connecting with our players and helping guide us toward a successful fall season.”
 
Navarro began his coaching career following a professional career that saw him play in Greece and Latvia from 2017-20. Prior to that, he played collegiately at Iowa Western during the 2013 season before playing at St. Mary’s College. While at Iowa Western, he was teammates with current JMU assistant coach Nick Melville as they won IWCC’s first national title and became the fourth NJCAA D1 team to have an undefeated and untied championship season at 25-0-0.
 

Hamilton College Interim Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator Deidre Pierson announced the hiring of Brendan Ujvary as the Continentals’ next head men’s soccer coach on Thursday, June 19.
 
Ujvary, who has been an assistant coach at Hamilton since 2015, is just the third person to lead the men’s soccer team since 1959. Perry Nizzi is retiring at the end of the month after winning 211 matches over 26 seasons, and Manfred von Schiller won 227 times from 1959 to 1997.
 
“I’m incredibly honored and grateful to be named the next head coach of this program,” Ujvary said. “I want to extend my deepest thanks to Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty Ngonidzashe Munemo, Deidre Pierson and the search committee for this incredible opportunity.”
 
Ujvary inherits a team that finished 8-6-4 overall and advanced to the second round of the 2024 NCAA Division III championship after a 3-2 win over Calvin University in the first round. The Continentals tied 2-2 with Kenyon College in the next round, but Kenyon advanced on penalty kicks. Hamilton posted a 4-4-2 record in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) – a conference that received seven at-large bids to the NCAA championship.
 
“It’s hard to put into words what this place means to me — it’s been home for nearly a decade — and to now have the chance to lead it is something I’ll never take for granted. I have to especially thank Coach Nizzi. He’s been a mentor, a leader, and more than anything, a great friend. His guidance and trust meant so much to me, and I’ll carry that with me in all that’s ahead.”
 
Ujvary has helped lead the Continentals to 68 wins and seven NESCAC championship appearances. The Hamilton men advanced to the conference final in 2016 and the semifinals in 2017 and 2018. He has coached the conference’s 2016 rookie of the year, eight all-region selections and 14 all-NESCAC team honorees. 
 
“Coach Ujvary’s ascension to the head position of our men’s soccer program is a testament to his hard work and commitment to the development of our Hamilton scholar-athletes,” Pierson said. “His energy and relatability will continue to propel the success of the program. He brings a healthy outlook towards the future and a respect for the program’s successes of the past.”
 
Ujvary was an assistant with the Utica University men’s team in 2013 and 2014. He helped guide the Pioneers to a pair of Empire 8 Conference playoff appearances, including the team’s first trip to the championship game in 2013. Utica players received eight all-conference team honors and one Empire 8 rookie of the year award during his time at the school. 
 
Ujvary played college soccer at SUNY New Paltz. The defender appeared in 53 matches with 41 starts over the course of three seasons. As a senior, he helped lead the Hawks to the SUNYAC quarterfinals in 2011. Ujvary was a member of the Dean’s List all four years, made the United Soccer Coaches all-academic team and represented the soccer program on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
 
Ujvary has earned his United Soccer Coaches National Diploma. He earned a bachelor’s degree in adolescent education with a specialization in social studies and a geography minor, and he has a master’s degree in special education from Utica. Ujvary is from Kings Park, N.Y., and played soccer at Kings Park High School.
 

The Arkansas Razorbacks, needing a win to stay alive in the NCAA College World Series, were one out away from forcing a rematch with the LSU Tigers on Wednesday night. 

However, left fielder Charles Davalan had a brutal blunder in the outfield in what could have been the end of the game. Instead, it helped LSU earn themselves a spot in the championship series. 

Tigers right-handed hitter Luis Hernandez roped a pitch to left field that went 104 mph off the bat, but it was hit directly at Davalan. However, it appeared the left fielder slipped and misjudged the ball, and it bounced off his shoulder and went toward the wall. 

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Arkansas Razorbacks outfielder Charles Davalan, #24, stands on third base after a triple during the NCAA Division I Regional baseball game between the Creighton Blue Jays and Arkansas Razorbacks on June 1, 2025 at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Andy Altenburger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

If that was not enough of a problem, there were runners on first and second for LSU, and they both scored to tie things up at five apiece. 

The Razorbacks had just taken the lead in the top of the ninth inning thanks to a Justin Thomas two-RBI single to left field, but it was all for naught in the end. 

ARKANSAS BASEBALL STAR PITCHES HISTORIC NO-HITTER IN COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

Jared Jones, who tied the game earlier with a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, came in clutch yet again, singling home Hernandez on a line drive that hit off second baseman Cam Kozeal’s glove and landed in center field to score the winning run in walk-off fashion. 

LSU Tigers first baseman Jared Jones, #22, celebrates after hitting a walk-off RBI single against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the ninth inning at Charles Schwab Field. (Dylan Widger-Imagn Images)

The Tigers celebrated their trip to the championship series, while Arkansas could not believe they did not force a rematch.

While LSU celebrated, Davalan was understandably emotional after the game. His Razorbacks teammates were seen consoling him as he let his emotions pour out on the field. 

Arkansas Razorbacks center fielder Justin Thomas Jr., #4, bows his head after falling to the LSU Tigers at Charles Schwab Field. (Dylan Widger-Imagn Images)

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The Tigers, seeking their second national title in three seasons, will be facing Coastal Carolina, who defeated Louisville, 11-3, to secure their spot in the final, best-of-three bout. 

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It’s OK to dream. Dreaming is like exercise for a healthy soul.

Pursuing those dreams is optional. But the benefits from living dreams are out of this world.

Gio Mancino’s dreams revolve around playing soccer at the highest level – his highest, no one else’s.

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Cedar Crest graduate Gio Mancino is pursuing his childhood dreams to play soccer professionally. (Provided photo)
“For me, it’s always been my dream to play soccer professionally,” he said. “I’ve worked hard for it. I think I’ve always been Mr. Underrated. With it comes pressure. But they say pressure builds diamonds.”

A 2024 graduate of Cedar Crest, Mancino is both living and pursuing his dream to play professional soccer with the Capital City Islanders, a recent, semi-professional soccer start-up that plays its home games at Harrisburg’s City Island.

Mancino isn’t getting paid by the Islanders to play. In fact, he has secured a sponsorship from Palmyra-area business Lazzaro’s Italian Bistro to help offset expenses.

But Mancino is hoping the exposure and experience with Capital City will lead to future professional soccer opportunities.

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“We don’t get paid to play at the moment,” said Mancino. “For me, the sky’s the limit. I want to play professionally. It’s always been my dream. I’ve just have to be looked at and I’ve got to show results on the field.

“I think when you have the same dream, and have it over and over, you should chase it. But don’t do it by yourself; do it with God. Never give up, just keep working hard. The bill of trying hard is better than the bill of regret.”

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Following try-outs in February, Mancino made the Islanders’ roster this spring. Despite battling injuries, Mancino, who plays right wing, has found ways to contribute to the Islanders’ success and reports that his first professional soccer experience has been mostly positive.

“I think it’s more difficult than college soccer,” said Mancino, 19. “We have players from all over. It’s very competitive. It’s hard for me going up against grown men. For me, it’s pretty hard. I think when I’m injury free, it’ll be easier for me to compete.

“I think I’m doing well, just with the mental stuff. I’m trying to earn a spot back. The injury is making me work harder and trust God more. I’m grateful I’m able to play again and compete for a spot.”

The Capital City Islanders’ inaugural United Premiere Soccer League Division One season began in early April and ends early next month. Through 10 games, the Islanders were 7-2-1 and in first place in the developmental league that is designed to bridge the gap between college and professional soccer.

Gio Mancino’s playing time during his first season with the Capital City Islanders has been limited by injuries. (Provided photo)
“I’m a left-footed player and I play right wing,” said Mancino. “I’m a team-player first. I’m simple. I’m very fast and I like to use my speed. I think I’m one of the best passers. I love the assists. For me, the assist is more impactful than the goal.

“I love soccer. I like to glorify God through the sport. God gives me the opportunity to wake up every morning and play the sport. This is what I was meant to do and if I work hard, God will give me what I need to succeed.”

Mancino enjoyed a solid, but not necessarily spectacular, scholastic career at Cedar Crest. During the fall of 2024, Mancino competed for Washington and Jefferson College’s Division Three soccer team.

“I like meeting new people and playing the game I grew up watching,” he said. “My favorite part is celebrating a goal and celebrating a win. What I love about the game is that there’s always something to improve on. I get to see how far I can go with it and see how much I improve every day.”

At age 19, Gio Mancino is one of the youngest members of the Capital City Islanders semi-professional soccer team. (Provided photo)
Exactly how far Mancino can take this professional soccer thing remains to be seen. At this point, he’s content to control the things he can control and turn the other things over to God.

“When I was five, I just played for the love of it,” he said. “I played the game for fun. I really didn’t work hard. I thought if I practiced, it was enough. When I was 14, I started hitting the gym. I’m built very well for the sport. You’ve got to go the gym and eat healthy. I’m just a hard-working guy. For me, the grind never stops.”

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