"The team has really come together over the course of preseason. The freshman have brought some positive energy and integrated well into the group. The transfer students are bringing their experience from the previous programs to help enhance the team. On the whole we have been able to foster a team culture of positivity and respect."
— Tritons Head Coach, Joe Ilett.
TRITON MEN'S SOCCER
RETURNERS
Luciano Rodriguez (Sr.; F) - Rodriguez appeared in 15 games with 13 starts last season, totaling 1,137 minutes on the pitch. He scored three goals on the year, against Florida Southern (Sept. 20), Florida Tech (Sept. 30), and Palm Beach Atlantic (Oct. 28). He dished out four assists on the season as well.
Aidan Leak (Sr.; GK) - Leak started in 13 games, totaling 1,151 minutes. He was a three-time SSC Defensive Player of the Week. He totaled 46 saves on the year and five clean sheets, including a shutout over No. 5 Lynn on the road.
Jonathan Falbe-Hansen (Sr.; MF) - He appeared in 11 games with one start last season.
Jannik Brengel (Sr.; D/MF) - Brengel appeared in 12 contests with 11 starts, with 818 minutes logged. He scored two goals on the season, with his first career goal against West Alabama on September 8 and adding his second at Florida Southern on September 20.
Viktor Milton (Sr.; D) - He appeared in 15 games with 14 starts, and logged 1.145 minutes while contributing to five clean sheets on the season.
Tommy Shepherd (Sr.; F/MF) - Shepherd appeared in 15 games with 14 starts with 897 minutes played and three goals. He scored goals against Delta State on September 2, Embry-Riddle (Fla.) on September 16, and Saint Leo on October 18. He dished out three assists on the season as well.
Alex Gordon (Sr.; D) - Gordon appeared in three contests last season.
Lucas Berglund (Sr.; MF) - Berglund appeared in 15 games with 12 starts last year, totaling 938 minutes. He scored his first career goal against Embry-Riddle on September 16.
Zachary Ervanian (Sr.; D) - Ervanian appeared in 12 games with two starts last year, logging 373 minutes. He contributed to one clean sheet on the back line.
RETURNERS (cont.)
Liam Armstrong (Jr.; F) - He played in 12 games with one start, totaling 372 minutes.
Samuel Musungaie (Jr.; F) - He appeared in 10 games with two starts, registering two shots, with one shot on goal against Delta State on September 2.
Juan Reis (Jr.; D) - Reis appeared in three contests last year.
Blaine Sutton (Jr.; F) - He appeared in 12 games with three starts, logging 460 minutes last year. He scored two goals on the season against Florida Southern on September 16 and Saint Leo on October 28, and recorded an assist against Saint Leo on October 28.
Adam Hill (Jr.; F) -He appeared in five games with one start last year.
Daniel Bloomfield (Jr.; MF) - Bloomfield appeared in 13 games with two start last year with 312 minutes.
Nick Criss (Jr.; MF) -Appeared in 12 games with seven starts, with 571 minutes on the field.
RETURNERS (cont.)
Finn Steele (So.; D/MF) - Steele appeared in 15 games with 13 starts, while playing 1,174 minutes. He recorded his first career assist against Embry-Riddle (Fla.) on September 16.
Aaron Ristorcelli (So.; MF) - He appeared in five games last year and recorded his first career assist against Embry-Riddle (Fla.) on September 16.
Juan Borges (So.; MF) - He appeared in 12 games last season, logging over 300 minutes with five shot attempts.
Brandon Wheeler (So.; GK) - Did not appear in a game last season.
Gabriel Weikert (So.; GK) - Weikert returns to the squad in 2024, appearing in two games with one start in 2021.
NEWCOMERS
Robert Thorarinsson (So.; D) - Spent one season at Robert Morris University, appearing in fourteen games with one goal against Milwaukee. He prepped at Commercial College of Iceland.
Manuel Gonzalez (Fr.; MF) - Prepped at Williston Northampton School in Mexico, garnering NEPAC Honorable Mention, and Western New England All-Star accolades. He was also the captain of the track and field 4x400 relay team.
Thomas Jenkinson (Fr.; D) - Played at Huddersfield New College in England.
August Nygard (Fr.; D/MF) - Attended Västermalms Gymnasium in Sweeden.
Daniel Freire (Fr.; F/MF) - Attended Riverview High School in Florida.
Marcus Kennedy (Fr.; D) - Attended Park Tudor High School in Indiana, where he was regionally ranked on Top Drawer Soccer with his academy team.
Andrew Hopen (Fr.; MF) - He prepped at Calvary Christian High School in the county, where he won a district championship in 2022. He garnered offensive most valuable player (2024) and Pinellas All-Star (2024) accolades.
Maury Allison (Fr.; D) - Attended St. Petersburg Collegiate High School.
Caden Williams (R-F.; F) - Spent one season at the University of North Florida. Prepped at Clearwater Central Catholic High School in Florida.
JOE ILETT '09
Head coach Joe Ilett '09 enters his first season at the helm in 2024. Joe Ilett '09 was named the interim head men's soccer coach in April 2024. He rejoined his alma mater in the spring of 2024 as an assistant. He also spent time as an assistant coach for Eckerd from 2009-11.
He has a background working at the professional level, spending the 2021-22 season as the UPSL Head Coach of the St.Petersburg Aztecs, the 2016-17 season with the Colchester United Football Club in England as the Development Coach and FITC Community Sport Coach, and the Technical Coach with West Ham United in 2013.
Ilett brings a wealth of experience from the youth and prep level as well, spending four years with Chicago Fire Soccer from 2013-17, as the Director of Boys Soccer at AYSO Region 300 Extra Program in Illinois from 2015-16, as a coach with the Lyons Township Soccer Club in Illinois from 2017-19, four years with the Chargers Soccer Club in Clearwater spending time as the Academy Coach and Academy Director from 2019-2023, and with the Tampa Bay United Soccer Club in 2023.
Ilett was a four-year member of the men's soccer team, appearing in 67 games with 25 goals and 16 assists. He was a two-time all-conference selection, earning honorable mention honors in 2005 and second-team honors in 2008. He ranks fifth in program history in career goals and tied for fourth in career assists.
Joining Ilett on the sidelines is John Damasco, Kyle Clinton, and Jake Wiffen.
You can expect the team to be organized, tactically agile, and play on the front foot. We aim to have the ball in our possession and play in the opposition half as much as possible."
— Tritons Head Coach, Joe Ilett.
2024 MEN'S SOCCER QUICK LINKS
Eckerd opens the season at home with a match against West Alabama on September 6 at 7:00 PM. They continue their opening weekend home stand against Alabama in Huntsville on September 8 before hitting the road for a pair regional games at Flagler. EC returns home on September 18 for its final tuneup before SSC play, hosting Nova Southeastern in a nonconference contests on September 18 before opening SSC play on September 21 against Barry for alumni night.
Eckerd was selected 10th in the SSC preseason poll. With many new faces joining the team this year to add to the returning roster, the Tritons look to shake up the conference with the regular season ending at Florida Southern in a non conference contest on November 6.