Soccer Star Caleb Cole Receives National Accolades

By Daniel Simonds ’18

The Commonwealth Coast Conference 2014 Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Year is Caleb Cole ’17—who scored a league-leading 14 goals this fall for Gordon Men’s Soccer, the highest-scoring team in the conference this fall and runners-up to the CCC championship title. His incredibly successful fall season also led to being named to the Eastern College Athletic Conference All-New England First Team and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-American Second Team.

It was a rewarding season, on and off the field.

“Soccer is your religion if you’re a Division I soccer player. But here, your pursuit of God is nourished,” says Cole, a philosophy major from Coatesville, Pennsylvania. “The people are the difference. It’s a really special place. From a playing standpoint, I don’t know if there’s another team that has the friendships our team has.”

At Gordon, Cole says, members of the Men’s Soccer team—consistently present in the NSCAA regional top 10 rankings—focus on being one another’s “brother’s keeper.” That is the team identity. “We try to recruit top-notch players that will inspire teammates. I’m really blessed by the other guys on the team,” Cole says. “That’s the goal: create relationships that last. It’s not just about soccer.”

Cole has experienced much success as an offensive player ever since starting at Gordon. During his first year, he led the Scots in assists with nine. As a sophomore, he assumed the role of finisher and has lived up to that title, finding the back of the net on 30 percent of his shots and contributing to the Scots’ 50 goals over the season.

But it’s more than goals and victories for this top-level forward, who spent his high school summers working at Gordon’s youth soccer camps. “I chose Gordon because I fell in love with the campus and believe that there is a high level of education and overall Christian atmosphere,” Cole says. “I can’t imagine a better place to spend four years of my life.”

Halfway through his time on the Brigham Athletic Complex turf, it’s clear that Cole has already left his mark—on and off the field.

 
Daniel Simonds is a communication arts major from Bristol, Rhode Island.
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