RALEIGH, NC — Seven Wake Tech Men's Soccer players were named to All-Region teams on Friday. Sophomore forward Kayden Richter was named the Region 10 DII Player of the Year, while head coach Brandon Kind was named the league's Coach of the Year.
Brandon Kind | Coach of the Year
Kind took over as head coach after the first game of the regular season, and while he was at the helm the Eagles recorded a 6-5 (5-3 conf.) record. He led the Eagles to their highest win total since 2019, finishing second in the region for the regular season. Wake Tech led the league in goals per game overall (3.75) and in conference play (4.38). It was a strong season defensively for the Eagles as well, finishing second in the conference in goals allowed per game (2.0) and in conference play (1.63).
Kayden Richter, Forward | First-Team, Player of the Year
Richter was named to the first-team for a second time after another stellar goalscoring season, also bringing in Player of the Year honors. He tallied 14 goals and eight assists over 12 starts, leading the region in both categories. He recorded two hat tricks this season, the first coming at home against Virginia Peninsula on September 7 and the second coming one month later at Virginia Peninsula on October 7.
The Colorado Springs native finishes his Wake Tech career with 26 goals and 11 assists, and is the program's all-time leading goalscorer.
Ali Elshafi, Midfielder | First-Team
Elshafi finished the season as the region's second-leading goalscorer (10), behind only his teammate Richter. He started all 12 games for the Eagles and recorded his first career hat trick on October 7 in a 13-1 win at Virginia Peninsula. He had two other multi-goal performances.
Gabriel Catalano, Goalkeeper | Second-Team
Catalano made nine appearances and seven starts in goal for the Eagles and finished second in the region in goals-against average (2.07). He finished the season with three win decisions.
Daniel Metcalf, Midfielder | Second-Team
Metcalf is an All-Region honoree for the second-straight season. The Swansboro native made 10 starts, recording two goals and five assists. His assist total was good for fourth among Region 10 DII players.
Metcalf was a staple in the Wake Tech midfield the last two seasons, and he finishes his time with the Eagles with 22 appearances and 21 starts, with three career goals and six career assists.
Gerardo Escobar-Vazquez, Midfielder | Second-Team
Escobar-Vazquez was another mainstay in the Wake Tech midfield, starting in all 12 of the team's games. He finished the season with two goals and one assist, and never received a caution.
He finishes his time at Wake Tech with 25 appearances, all coming as a starter.
Fabrizio Del Castillo, Defender | Third-Team
Del Castillo stepped into the team as a freshman and immediately found a home as an outside back. He made nine appearances, including eight starts, for the Eagles in his freshman campaign. Del Castillo tallied his first collegiate goal in an 8-0 win against Virginia Peninsula on September 7.
Vicente Estrada-Nunez, Defender | Third-Team
Estrada-Nunez was another standout freshman for the Eagles, appearing in all 12 games, including 11 starts. He finished his first season at Wake Tech with two goals and one assist. Estrada-Nunez recorded his first collegiate goal in a 6-1 win over Richard Bland on September 24.