Wentworth Institute of Technology: Athletics > Varsity Sports

Averaging nearly 10 wins per season over the last 10 years, the Wentworth men’s soccer team has become a rising force in the soccer worlds of Boston, the Commonwealth Coast Conference, and New England. The program made its intercollegiate debut during the 1986 season and had only two winning seasons through 1995. Following a 1-17 finish in 1995, the Leopards made a remarkable turnaround the next season, finishing 12-6 and capturing, for the first time, both the regular season and tournament crowns in the CCC.

After changing coaches and going through a rebuilding year in 1997, the Leopards leaped back into prominence in 1998, finishing 13-7-1, after an 8-0-1 start to the season. During that stretch, Wentworth outscored its opponents 19-5 and posted five shutouts, including four in a row to start the season. Wentworth advanced to the CCC semifinals that year, losing a 1-0 game to Salve Regina.

Wentworth finished the 2000 season at 13-6 and advanced to the CCC championship game for just the second time in school history. The Leopards were defeated in the championship game 2-0 by Roger Williams and narrowly missed gaining an ECAC Tournament berth. The 2001 season saw a 7-0-1 start en route to a (then) school-best 14-4-1 record and an appearance in the conference semifinals. Wentworth was rewarded for its fine season with its first-ever berth in the ECAC Tournament, a reward handed out in 2005 as well.

The 2007 season was arguably the best in the program's history. Wentworth began the season with a 5-3 record - with all three losses coming by one goal - before going on a seven-game win streak in which Wentworth outscored its opponents by a 28-2 margin. The Leopards would finish third in the conference, defeating sixth-seeded New England College in the quarterfinals and advancing to the title game on penalty kicks after tying Roger Williams. Despite falling to nationally ranked Western New England in the conference finals, the Leopards were the number three seed in their fourth ECAC Tournament appearance where they defeated Southern Maine and Framingham State before losing to Norwich in the finals. The 15-6-1 record is the best in the program's history.

Graduation took its toll on the Leopards and Wentworth's 2008 season finished at 5-10-4, with four of the losses coming by a single goal. Six of the team's games went into overtime, with Wentworth posting a 1-1-4 record in those games. Needing a win in its final two games to clinch a spot in the postseason, Wentworth dropped a pair of one-goal games, including a 3-2 loss to Western New England. In that game Wentworth held a 2-1 lead until late in the contest. Three members of the Leopards - senior midfielder Kyle Nasman (Lenox, Mass.), senior midfielder Ben Hamlin (Vernon, Conn.), and senior defender Ian Downing (Skowhegan, Maine) were named All-The Commonwealth Coast Conference.

Six players graduate from the 2008 team, including three of its top four scorers, its top two defensive players, and a goalkeeper. A solid nucleus of underclassmen should help Wentworth return to the conference tournament after a year's hiatus.

Offensive standout Mike Martins ’97, was inducted into Wentworth’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002, with defensive stalwart Sean Marshall ’99, joining him in 2004 and Dylan Thomas ’00, the goalkeeper on the 1996 championship squad, entering in 2005. In 2007, David Evans ’04, the program’s all-time leading scorer, became the fourth men’s soccer player to be inducted.

Schedule

The Leopards play a 17-game regular season schedule, which includes 12 games against CCC opponents such as Salve Regina, Roger Williams, Colby-Sawyer, Endicott, Western New England, and Gordon. The non-league schedule features games against Babson, WPI, and MIT.

Home games are played at Sweeney Field, home of the Leopards since the 1996 season. This artificially surfaced facility is equipped with lighting to allow for evening practices and games. The Leopards have won nearly 70 percent of their home games, including the 1996 CCC finals in overtime. The field is lit to accommodate day and evening practice and competition.

Meet the Coaching Staff

Bob Long is entering his 13th season as the Leopards' head coach. After serving as an assistant coach from 1995-1996, he assumed the role of head coach for the 1997 season and has posted 119-93-9 (.559) record. Long is a two-time (2000, 2006) CCC Coach of the Year. He is assisted by Carl Betterley (Wentworth '95) a former Leopard standout, who was All-CCC in 1993.