Waunakee Native Denu Named to UW-Whitewater Men's Soccer Roster

2015 Aug 31

Jared Denu, a native of Waunakee, WI, and graduate of Waunakee High School, will compete on the 2015 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's soccer team.

Denu, a senior for the Warhawks, is majoring in accounting (master's).

UW-Whitewater opens the season Tuesday at Wisconsin Lutheran.

See below for a complete season preview of the 2015 team.

2015 UW-Whitewater Men's Soccer Preview: Strong Defense, Fast Offense Highlight 2015 Warhawks

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's soccer team, an established regional power, will use a familiar formula as it seeks its second straight appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2015.

In 2014, the Warhawks reached the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in the last six seasons. The team hosted Carroll in the first round and advanced to the second round with a 3-1 victory.

UW-Whitewater finished the campaign with a 14-5-4 record, tied for third-most wins in one season in program history. Head coach Tony Guinn was named Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for the first time.

The strength behind the team's 2014 run was a stingy defense that allowed just 0.95 goals per game, the ninth-lowest figure in one season in program history.

Guinn expects more of the same this season as all five players expected to occupy the defense, including the goalkeeper, enter the year with significant experience.

With the addition of fast, explosive players up front, Guinn believes he has one of his most talented Warhawk teams in his fourth year at the helm.

"Our defense will be the strength of our team," Guinn said. "We've always been good statistically, and I don't think that will change. We also have an offense with some flair that's ambitious and fast."

Despite the loss of several key players, including leading scorers John Gottwald and Ryan Reid and starting goalkeeper Josh Rohde, to graduation, the Warhawks return several key components from last year's team while adding a strong core of youth this fall. The diverse group features student-athletes primarily from Wisconsin and the Chicagoland area, but includes players from Belarus, Cameroon, Burkina Faso (a nation in West Africa), England and Canada.

"Last year, we had a lot of seniors, and this year, we're young," Guinn said. "There are a lot of new faces, but we have good talent. It was hard to pick just 28 guys from our tryout. It's a hard-working, coachable, disciplined group."

The Warhawks begin the 2015 campaign Tuesday at Wisconsin Lutheran. One day later, UW-Whitewater opens the home portion of its season at 7 p.m. against fellow 2014 NCAA qualifier MSOE at Fiskum Field.

Other key match-ups include consecutive road games against two more national qualifiers. UW-Whitewater visits No. 11 Loras (Iowa), which reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament a year ago, on Sept. 30. The team then visits North Park (Ill.), which is receiving votes in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America preseason poll, on Oct. 1.

The Warhawks finish the campaign with three consecutive road matches, including visits to fellow former conference rivals UW-Oshkosh (Oct. 24) and UW-Platteville (Oct. 28).

The WIAC's dissolution, coupled with the school's reputation as a power in all sports, made scheduling difficult and uneven, Guinn said. UW-Whitewater plays four times during its opening week, but has a nine-day run without a match in mid-October.

See below for a complete personnel breakdown of the 2015 UW-Whitewater men's soccer team.

Offense

Senior Sam Novak is the top returning scorer for the Warhawks. A three-time All-WIAC selection, Novak garnered first team all-conference and NSCAA All-Wisconsin State accolades in 2014 after compiling 15 points, including four goals and seven assists, good for second in the league.

Other returners in the midfield include senior Kyle Ricely, sophomores Adrian Castillo, Kyle Clancy and Isaac Monson. Ricely and Clancy each played in all 23 matches and combined for 30 starts in 2014. Ricely finished with one assist, while Clancy posted one goal. Monson tallied one goal in nine appearances, including a pair of starts, while Castillo played in seven contests.

Junior midfielder Jordan Kayser returns for his third year with the team. He last played in 2013, when he recorded one assist in 15 games.

None of the five forwards listed on the roster were on the team in 2014. Senior Jared Denu, a four-time All-American for the Warhawks' track and field team, makes his return to soccer after totaling two assists in 12 matches as a member of the team in 2011. Sophomore Dylan Hottsmith posted six goals and was named College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Newcomer of the Year in 2014 as a member of the Millikin (Ill.) men's soccer team.

Freshmen: Midfielder Derick Achombom, midfielder Deklan Corbett, forward Ivan Khamenka, forward Callan Lucjak, midfielder Carmel Nezien, midfielder Taylor Ortiz, forward Michael Piette, midfielder Jake Santellano.

Defense

Senior Jordan Wilkins and junior Justin Stanko highlight UW-Whitewater's deep, experienced defensive corps. Wilkins tied for third on the team in 2014 with four goals in 23 matches, while Stanko recorded three goals and one assist as the team's primary defensive stopper in front of goal.

Juniors Chris Roche, Owen Thompson and sophomore Kevin Winter also logged significant time in back last season. Winter appeared in all 23 matches, while Roche made eight starts. Thompson played in 14 contests, making three starts.

Senior Alex Buchman and sophomore Chris Lucatorto each return as goalkeepers in 2015. Buchman finished 2-1-1 with a .811 save percentage in 10 matches last year, while Lucatorto tallied a 1-1 mark with a 1.17 goals against average. Each player posted one shutout.

Freshmen: Defender Jeremy Cohen, defender Zach Manibog, defender Max Prospero, defender Alex Whiteman, defender Jack Wirth.

For more information on the UW-Whitewater men's soccer team, visit the Warhawks' Web page.