Former Eagle Forsythe Passes Away

The Ashland University athletic department is mourning the passing of former Eagle men's soccer goalkeeper Toby Forsythe on Sunday (July 5) morning.
 
Forsythe, 21, of Gahanna, Ohio, passed away following an automobile accident.
 
"He was a great kid. Very popular. We all had a great relationship with him," said Ashland head men's soccer coach Nick Roberts. "Great kid to have around. He was a funny kid, very well-liked. And he was a very determined kid. He was very determined to play at the college level.
 
"Toby was an interesting case. I got to know him through the high school coach at Gahanna Lincoln. He recommended Toby to me. Toby got into high school soccer, and inadvertently became a goalkeeper. He just loved that position. It kind of gave him a really good focus in life, and he took it by the horns and ran with it. In the recruitment process, we told him he had natural, raw talent, but he needed a lot of training to get to the college level."
 
Forsythe spent two seasons (2023-24) in the Eagle men's soccer program, playing on the reserve team as a sophomore. In 2025 at Shawnee State following a transfer, he started all 17 games, going 7-5-5 with a 1.38 goals-against average and 64 saves.
 
"After two years, he had a chance to play at Shawnee State," Roberts noted, "and we were like, 'Toby, go for it.' I was really pleased when he went down to Shawnee and played there.
 
"He was a pretty special kid."
 
Counseling resources for AU students, faculty and staff are available through the AU Office of Christian Ministry (419-207-6100) and Psychological Counseling Services (419-289-5200).