HOUSTON, Texas – Competing at SaberCats Stadium for the SCAC Championship, the University of St. Thomas men's soccer team celebrated an outstanding achievement with forward Daniel Castro leading the way. In voting conducted by the league's head coaches and sports information directors, Castro earned first-team All-SCAC honors, highlighting his exceptional impact on the team and the conference tournament.
Castro's performance throughout the tournament was nothing short of historic. His goal in the championship game brought his total to three goals for the tournament and set a new SCAC record with eight career goals scored in the tournament. Castro also became the first men's soccer player in SCAC history to score multiple goals in a tournament match on three separate occasions, underscoring his remarkable consistency and skill on the field.
Head Coach Ernesto Ramirez says, "We're gonna miss Dani, but he's made his mark. He's left the legacy and not only in UST but also in the conference and when the moments matter most throughout his career, he stepped up and delivered."
Joining Castro in earning postseason honors were Ian Alvarez, Diego Lazo, and Tony Castro, all of whom received All-SCAC Honorable Mentions. Their leadership, alongside the contributions of an exciting group of newcomers, helped the Celts achieve another successful campaign, highlighted by their fifth consecutive appearance in the SCAC Championship match.
2024 All-SCAC Men's Soccer First Team
· Curtis Hale, Colorado College (Sr., D – Richmond, Va.)
· JonConnor Rule, Trinity University (Gr., D – San Antonio, Texas)
· Raghav Sharma, Southwestern University (Jr., D – Austin, Texas)
· Hunter Cain, Trinity University (Sr., F – Houston, Texas)
· Daniel Castro, University of St. Thomas (Sr., F – Houston, Texas)
· Jose Aguirre, Concordia (Texas) (Sr., F – Oceanside, Calif.)
· Louis Catchpole, Austin College (Sr., F – Kent, England)
· Adam Knutson, Trinity University (Jr., M – Dripping Springs, Texas)
· Michael Grimm, Southwestern University (Sr., M – Dallas, Texas)
· Alexander Ward, Colorado College (Sr., M – Portland, Ore.)
· Louis Instrall, Trinity University (Jr., M – London, England)
· Alex Wolter, Colorado College (So., GK – New Canaan, Conn.)
2024 All-SCAC Men's Soccer Honorable Mentions
· Ian Alvarez, University of St. Thomas (Sr., D – Bellville, Texas)
· Diego Lazo, University of St. Thomas (Sr., M – Katy, Texas)
· Tony Castro, University of St. Thomas (So., F – Queens, N.Y.)
· Hani Ahmadie, University of St. Thomas (Fr., F – Glendale, Calif.)
· Aldo Hernandez, University of St. Thomas (Fr., M – Houston, Texas)
This is what we're recruiting—players who can come in and make a difference from day one," Ramirez added. "I'm proud of their efforts, and they stepped up when it mattered most to earn these awards."
The Celts' bright future was further underscored by the recognition of three freshmen on the 2024 All-SCAC Men's Soccer Freshman Team:
· Leonardo Herrera, University of St. Thomas (Fr., D – Atascocita, Texas)
· Hani Ahmadie, University of St. Thomas (Fr., F – Glendale, Calif.)
· Aldo Hernandez, University of St. Thomas (Fr., M – Houston, Texas)
As the 2024 season concludes, the Celts reflect on another year of growth and success, with optimism for the program's future fueled by its talented core of returning players and promising freshmen.
