( Photo Provided )
In a season where the Carleton men’s soccer team suffocated the competition defensively, everyone realized the talent of defender Nicholas Persichino, who has been named the Charlatan’s Male Athlete of the Year.
Persichino, a third-year commerce major from Thunder Bay, was the captain of a dominant Ravens team that surrendered only 10 goals in the regular season.
He was regularly given the task of shutting down some of the OUA (Ontario University Athletics) East’s top scorers, and did so with startling efficiency.
In addition to his defensive prowess, Persichino also contributed on the offensive end, recording a goal and two assists during the regular season.
In recognition of his play during the year, Persichino was named to second team All-Canada – sharing national honours with Carleton’s prolific striker Matt D’Angelo, who was named to the first team.
Persichino was also one of six Ravens named to the OUA East first team all-stars. 2008 was a season of hopeful beginnings for the men’s soccer team, who snagged OUA bronze after a disappointing shoot-out loss to Wilfrid Laurier University.
Their regular season victories vaulted the team to the first-place ranking in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) top 10.
However, the post-season proved to be a tough stretch for the Ravens, who had to settle for fifth place at nationals.
Despite the disappointing finish, the team will return next year with a large amount of talent, and the experience of head coach Sandy Mackie.
The pack will be lead by Persichino, who will to stifle the best players that the OUA has to offer, and to prove the veracity of the venerable sports proverb, “Defense wins championships.”