By Austin Moehn, Collin Bouressa, Mason Campbell & Caleb Miller
The University of Wisconsin Green Bay men’s soccer team has been flying under the radar and is due for well-deserved recognition. UWGB’s Men’s Soccer team has a record of eight wins, three losses, and five ties. This secured them into the Horizon League Tournament as the second seed. In 2020 and 2021, Green Bay Phoenix Men’s Soccer earned a record of 5-14-5 through the seasons and 4-11-3 in the Horizon League. In 2022, the Phoenix looked to turn around, earning 6 wins, 3 losses, and 7 ties. However, with only 2 wins in conference and 5 ties, they earned the 7 seed.
The season began with non-conference play, as their first game of the season was a 2-0 loss against the Memphis Tigers. This didn’t stop the Phoenix as they quickly bounced back with wins against Western Illinois and Southern Indiana. After the two-game win streak, junior goalkeeper Tobias Jahn took home Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week, and forward Chris Album won Under Armour Offensive Player of the Week honors in the second week. This came after Album scored three goals against Southern Indiana, registering the first hat trick for the program since 2014. The early success of the season helped build momentum for the rest of the 2023 campaign.
The Phoenix participated in several special event games this season, one of which was “Soktoberfest.” It was sponsored by Badger State Brewing Co., which played on the name of the German fall tradition of Oktoberfest. Polka music and beer were seen throughout Aldo Santaga Stadium with the stands. The Phoenix played conference foe Wright State. The game didn’t go as planned as the Raiders won 2-0. Although the loss was disappointing, with goalie Tobias Jahn highlighting this game as one of the more difficult hurdles the team had to overcome, the team stayed on track and had a tough test ahead of them with Big Ten opponent Northwestern.
The Phoenix showed off their defensive identity, which was a staple of their season, in their exhibition game against the then #12 ranked Northwestern Wildcats on October 3rd. The Wildcats had an excellent season, finishing 10-3-3 overall, with a conference record of 4-3-1 in a very competitive Big Ten. The Wildcats had three players receive first-team all-Big Ten distinction, one player received second-team honors, and one first-year student landed on the Big Ten’s all-freshman first team. Northwestern will also be playing in the Big Ten tournament against the Michigan Wolverines. The Wildcats did not record a loss against any of their non-conference opponents this season. UWGB is the only non-conference opponent to hold Northwestern scoreless. They are also only one of two teams to hold the Wildcats to zero throughout the entire season. The Michigan Wolverines are the only other team to do so. This was a feather in the preverbal cap on the defensive end of the pitch that defined the Phoenix’s season.
In soccer, the style of play is unique. Teams have different formations and tactics that create an identity. Assistant Coach O’Reilly explained the style of play the Phoenix implement as controlled but quick. “We are a possession-based team offensively. We take pride in keeping the ball, putting our opponent under pressure with the ball, and making them work hard defensively. On the defensive side of the ball, we try to play high pressure, and we value defensive effort from all of our players. When we talk about defense, we do not just work with the defenders and the goalkeeper, but instead the entire team.”
Thanks to the tactics the team uses, the Phoenix ranks amongst the best defensive teams in the Horizon League. Green Bay has allowed the least goals in the Horizon League, averaging under one goal allowed at .88 goals per game. The next closest team in the conference is averaging 1.33 goals allowed per game. While most soccer fans will immediately look to the defensive positions as the reason for this defensive success, coach O’Reilly wanted to highlight a group that is another reason for the defensive success. “In our playing style, it does not work if you do not have defensive midfielders who are willing to do the dirty work. In our team, there are Tommy Coughlin, Luca Contestabile, Kolton Prater, and Jeloni Murray-Powell. In this position, you often do not get a ton of recognition. When we get a shutout, the headlines go to the defenders. If we score a bunch of goals, the recognition goes to the attacking players.”
This isn’t discrediting what the defense does, as Green Bay also leads the Horizon League in shutouts and save percentage. Junior Goalkeeper Tobias Jahn has a save percentage of 77% this season. Most soccer pundits claim that anywhere from 70-80% save percentage is considered good. Although Jahn has been recognized as defensive player of the week and often gets credited for the success, he isn’t seeking attention. “I think the statistics are a testament to the collective effort and commitment to our defensive play. It’s not just one group or individual to credit; it’s the result of the entire team’s hard work and a shared belief in the importance of a strong defense as the foundation of our success. As they say, ‘defense wins championships,’ and we genuinely believe in this philosophy.”
The freshman secured the second seed in the Horizon League playoffs. The first team will be seeing the other top teams in the conference within the next weeks. They will face either Detroit Mercy, Purdue Fort Wayne, or Wright State in the semi-finals of the Horizon League tournament. They will face off on Thursday, November 9th, at noon Central Time. If the Phoenix wins, they will have to face off with another tough opponent. The opponent will depend on the circumstances. The team they are predicted to meet in the Championship is the Oakland Golden Grizzles. As the number one seed, Oakland will host all semi-final and final matches. Earlier this season, on October 28th, the Phoenix beat the Golden Grizzlies 3-1 at Aldo Santaga Stadium.
The success of the UWGB men’s soccer team has been cherished by the fans, and the team has noticed. “The fan support has been great so far this season, and we hope that continues. If you have not come out to a game, please join us!” Coach O’Reilly commented. One fan of the UWGB men’s soccer team, Greg Bintz, had this to say about the team, “The team has been very exciting to watch. Our defense is among the best in the country statistically, and we’re in a lot of close games, so there’s never a dull moment,” Greg continued, “It’s cliche, but anything can happen at any time. There’s been so many electrifying, almost breathtaking moments this season. Whether it’s been a go-ahead goal or denying #12 ranked Northwestern a last-chance score, there’s a number of exciting moments in nearly every game.” The team is currently averaging about 204 fans every home game, which is about 40.8% of full capacity each game.
The UWGB men’s soccer team is hoping if they can continue to play well into the future, they have a good chance at making that happen. According to Bintz, “I think the future of the program is bright. We’ve had really good defense the last few seasons, and we’ve been able to make some noise in the conference. I think the program will be able to keep a consistent level of success, and hopefully, that success leads to a Horizon League Championship soon.”
Soccer is a sport that the fans and teams take great pride in and take honor in representing their club or school. The UWGB men’s soccer team takes pride in their style of play and what the team represents. The Phoenix will look forward to continuing the momentum from the regular season into the postseason and the overall future of their program.
