Ashland University junior midfielder
Teddy Togliatti made history on Wednesday (Nov. 8) afternoon, when the 2023 Great Midwest Athletic Conference men's soccer awards were released.
Togliatti on Wednesday became the first player in program history to earn the Great Midwest's Elite 26 Award - given to the student-athlete with the top cumulative grade-point average at the conference's championships. Through the spring 2023 semester, Togliatti sported a 3.93 cumulative GPA as a Biology major.
A starter for the Eagles in the midfield, Togliatti has recorded a goal and two assists for four points so far this fall, having played in all 19 games and started 16.
In addition on Wednesday, one of the top offensive seasons in the history of Ashland University men's soccer has led to a first-team all-conference citation for Eagle senior midfielder
Vander Rocha. So far in 2023, Rocha has 11 goals and five assists for 27 points – the 11 goals tied for seventh-most in program history, and the 27 points ninth-most in Eagle men's soccer annals.
This is Rocha's first all-conference selection as an Eagle.
Four Ashland players have earned spots on the Great Midwest second team – sophomore defender
Francesco Chiappo, junior forward
Pedro Faria, fifth-year midfielder
Oliver Whaley and junior goalkeeper
Ty Bowden.
- Chiappo once again was Ashland's sweeper, pacing an Eagle back line which has allowed just 28 goals in 19 games. The 2022 Great Midwest Freshman of the Year and second-team all-league choice has started and played all 19 games so far in 2023.
- Faria has recorded seven goals and an assist for 15 points, playing in 18 games and starting 15. Two of his goals have been game-winners.
- Whaley has a team-high-tying seven assists to go with five goals for 17 points. Two of his goals have been on penalty kicks. Whaley has played in all 19 games to this point, starting 18.
- Bowden, the 2022 Great Midwest Goalkeeper of the Year who missed most of the early part of the season due to injury, is 6-4-2 with a 1.20 goals-against average and an .806 save percentage in 12 games this season.
Ashland men's soccer (7-8-4) will play in a 2023 Great Midwest Tournament semifinal on Thursday (Nov. 9) at 1:30 p.m. against and at Tiffin (12-2-3).
