NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University men’s soccer team is adding three signees to an already potent 2015 soccer team, as head coach Nick Papanicolas announces the addition of Vinny Tasca, Patrick Spagnuolo, and Morgan Shutter for this coming fall.
The Wildcats finished 13-8 this past fall, advancing all the way to the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship match before falling, 1-0. The Wildcats graduate only two members from the 2014 squad.
Papanicolas welcomes Shutter, a junior college transfer from Tompkins Cortland Community College, and two high school graduates in Tasca (Methacton (PA)) and Spagnuolo (Christiana (DE)).
Shutter was named a NJCAA and NSCAA Second Team All-American as a sophomore in 2014, leading the team to a 12-6 record at Tompkins Cortland CC. He collected more than double the points than the second best player on the team, scoring 16 goals and adding two assists for 34 points in 18 games. He is a two-time NSCAA and NJCAA All-American, and was named the Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore.
Shutter joins the Wildcats after a four-year varsity career at Odessa-Montour High School in Odessa, N.Y. Shutter left Odessa-Montour and the Interscholastic Athletic Conference as the all-time leading goal scorer (as of 2012), tallying 93 career goals. He also set an IAC season record of 33 goals as a senior. He was named the IAC MVP three times in high school in addition to All-League.
Tasca was named a Pac-10 Honorable Mention goalkeeper at Methacton high school as a senior in 2014. He played two seasons on varsity at Methacton, being named a co-captain in his senior year this past fall. He also plays for the West-Mont United ’96 travel team, helping the team to a MSSL Rider Cup Championship.
Spagnuolo joins the hometown Wildcats after four years on varsity at Christiana High School, minutes away from the WU Athletics Complex. Spagnuolo was named a Second Team All-State player as a sophomore and junior before earning a spot in the Top-11 as a senior this past fall. He’s a two-time Team MVP and two-time team captain. He also competed for the Kirkwood Soccer Club U18 team, reaching the national tournament while he was a member.
The three signees will join the Wildcats in August when preseason for the 2015 season begins.