After an epic final four run in the 2023-2024 season and a strong recruiting class coming into the fall, the Washington and Lee men’s soccer team seemed primed for another stellar year in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC).
But back-to-back losses in the first two home games of the season and a record of 1-3 after two weekends of play signaled an alarming start for the Generals, who were ranked No. 3 in the Division III preseason poll.
The W&L men’s soccer team underwent some big changes in the offseason, which could explain their slow start, said sophomore midfielder Buster Couhig. Some of the team’s strongest contributors in the midfield graduated, and longtime coach Michael Singleton was succeeded by new head coach Lumumba Shabazz.
The Gennies battled back to win their next two games, crushing Oglethorpe University 3-0 in Charlotte and taking down Brevard College 2-1 in a gutsy win at home. These hard-fought wins brought them back to an even record of 3-3-0 on the season.
Senior leadership played an important role in securing these critical wins. Striker Weyimi Agbeyegbe, ’25, and midfielder Lucas Pleasants, ’25, lead the team with a combined two goals and two assists over the weekend.
“We have a very talented team, with very technically and athletically gifted players. We also have a system, and a way we play. At the beginning of the season we weren’t following that, but we’ve found it again and have become more team-oriented,” said Agbeyegbe.
That sentiment was reflected throughout the team, as first year players found their groove in Shabazz’s program. “From day one, it was clear how well everyone connected, both on and off the field,” said Ryan Sharpe, ’28, who recorded a goal and assist in his second weekend as a General. “The sense of camaraderie fostered by the upperclassmen flows through the entire team…it was just a matter of time until we were going to hit our stride.”
There were also questions about how a change in coaching would affect the team, but those questions have been answered, players told the Phi. “Now that we’re a few weeks into the season, a lot of the philosophy and coaching style is the same,” said Pleasants. “We’re pushing for a national championship and that is what [Coach Shabazz] came here for.
Headed into the second month of the season, players said they are unfazed by the first few losses and look towards the next few games with renewed energy and confidence. “It’s not about how you play in September, it’s about how you play in late October into November,” said midfielder Paul Collins, ’25.
Rankings also seem to be of little significance for the team. “Last year, we were unranked going into the tournament. My sophomore year, we were also ranked No. 3 in the nation, and lost our first game of the tournament 3-1,” said Agbeyegbe. “The only thing that matters is that we’re playing our best footy at the end of the season.”
Going forward, the Gennie’s keys to success will be improving in transition offense and building chemistry under Shabazz’s new leadership, according to Collins.
The road back to the final four this year will be tough, but the team is confident, focused and improving every day, said Pleasants.
“Winning a national title is obviously the goal, but we have to look more at the process to get there and play one game at a time,” said Pleasants. “If we play our style of soccer and execute our gameplan, we’re gonna always be a tough team to beat.”
Shabazz’s squad continues their fight back to the top this Wednesday Sept. 25 when the Generals open their conference schedule at home versus 2-3-2 Bridgewater College at 7 p.m.
