2022 Men's Soccer In-Year-Review

NEWARK, Del. - The Delaware men's soccer team completed their first season under first-year head coach Tommy McMenemy during the Fall 2022 year, and their 98th season overall. The Blue Hens featured 11 incoming freshmen and three incoming transfers to their squad, and received two All-Conference nods.

Making An Impact
With many new faces suiting up for the Blue Hens in 2022, a multitude of players were given chances to make their mark on the year, highlighted by freshman Sam Donnellan. The native of Newcastle, Australia led Delaware in goals with eight, including two game-winners, and scored multiple goals in the same game on two separate occasions. He reached eight goals within his first 14 career games, the fastest Blue Hen player to score eight career goals since former All-American Guillermo Delgado did so in his first five games in 2013. Donnellan's eight goals are the most by a Delaware freshman since Delgado had 15 in 2013, and the most by any Delaware player in a season since Delgado had 12 in 2017. Among CAA players during the regular season, Donnellan was tied for third in goals (eight) and sixth in points (16). His eight goals were tied with Chris Elliot of Charleston for the most goals in the conference by a freshman. Donnellan was also one of five players in the CAA with at least two games of multiple goals, joining Elliot Goldshorp (three) and Oliver Svalander of Hofstra, Jonas Bickus of Stony Brook, and Elliot.

Redshirt-freshman Adam Vik played in every minute of the season as the goalkeeper after transferring from Rider, while Pedro Barbolla and Aron Adalsteinsson started in every game they appeared in. Seidu Shamsudeen, a transfer from Villanova, started in all but one game this season, and scored three goals in his first season in Newark. Orri Thorhallsson had a breakout season as a sophomore, as he scored four goals and handed out two assists while starting in 12 games. Thorhallson gave Delaware a spark at the end of the year, as he scored three goals in the final five games of the season, including a goal and an assist against Stony Brook and a goal against Big 10 regular season champion Maryland.

Alonso Rodriguez, a transfer from Fort Hays State, started nine games, and found the back of the net twice against UMBC. Justin Ruth and Brandon Sengphachanh also scored goals for Delaware.

CAA Year-End Awards
Donnellan was named to the CAA All-Rookie Team and received All-Conference Second-Team honors, while Adalsteinsson was named to the CAA Third-Team. Adalsteinsson's honor was the third consecutive season he was named to an All-Conference team. He became the eighth Delaware player all-time with at least three All-Conference selections, joining John Schroeder and Robert Gillin (2016-2018), Thibault Philippe (2015-2017), Delgado (2013-2016), Dave Whitcraft (1982-1984), Scott Grzenda (1984-1986), and Jack Kinter (1950-1952).

Weekly CAA Awards
Donnellan was named Rookie of the Week on three separate occasions, the most among CAA players. He became the first Delaware player to receive back-to-back Rookie of the Weeks since Roberto Giménez in September 2011 and the first with three Rookie of the Week honors in a season since Giménez in 2011.

Vik also received a Defensive Player of the Week nod on Oct. 24 after he shutout Monmouth.

Academic Success
Pedro Barbolla, Brian Kelly, and Jack Leonard were all named to the 2022 Academic All-District Men's Soccer Team, selected by College Sports Communicators. This recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom, with a GPA of 3.50 or higher.

The Schedule
Delaware won the season-opener and the head-coaching debut of McMenemy with a 2-0 victory over Mount St. Mary's on August 25. Shamsudeen and Donnellan, also making their Blue Hen debut, both scored goals. Delaware also picked up a non-conference win against George Washington, which featured two goals by Donnellan.

In CAA play, Delaware won back-to-back conference games against Stony Brook, 3-2, and Monmouth, 1-0 on the road, on Oct. 15 and Oct. 22. Thorhallson and Donnellan, twice, scored goals in the win against Stony Brook, while Ruth scored his lone goal of the season in the win over Monmouth.

Delaware also picked up an impressive draw against UNCW on Sept. 24, the second-place finishers in the regular season in the CAA, overcoming a halftime deficit in the process. Delaware also played Saint Joseph's to a 1-1 draw on Sept. 6.

Final Rankings
Donnellan was tied for third, and tied for first among freshmen, in the CAA in goals scored with eight. He was also tied for sixth in the conference in points with 16. He was also one of nine freshmen this season with at least eight goals scored among Division I players.

Vik was tied for second in the CAA in saves with 61.

Delaware was second in corner kicks with 101, one of two teams (Hofstra, 109), in the conference with at least 100 corner kicks.

University of Delaware Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Aron Adalsteinsson

Pedro Barbolla

Guillermo Delgado

Sam Donnellan

Robert Gillin

Roberto Giménez

Brian Kelly

Jack Leonard

Thibault Philippe

Alonso Rodriguez

Justin Ruth

John Schroeder

Brandon Sengphachanh

Seidu Shamsudeen

Orri Thorhallsson

Adam Vik

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