CHESTERTOWN — In voting by the conference’s 10 head men’s soccer coaches, four Shoremen earned All-Centennial recognition.
Sophomore back Tshazi Kamau of Nairobi, Kenya was placed on the first team, senior goalkeeper Cole White of Seaford, Delaware was placed on the second team, and junior midfielder Tyler Davidson and junior back Ryan Sharpley, both of Medford, New Jersey, received honorable mention.
Coach Roy Dunshee selected fifth-year forward Zak Burgess of Media, Pennsylvania for the conference’s All-Sportsmanship Team.
Kamau, who was a second-team honoree last year, joins T.J. Velykis ’03 as the only two players in program history to earn All-Centennial honors as a freshman and a sophomore.
This year, Kamau was a factor on both ends of the field for the Shoremen — helping Washington post nine shutouts while at the same time leading the team in goals (4), assists (6) and points (14).
After two-time team MVP Anthony Pinto went out with an injury in the season opener, White (6-2-5) stepped up in a big way as keeper. He started 13 matches and appeared in 15 for the Shoremen, who were 8-5-6 on the season and 4-3-2 in the conference. His line included a 0.88 goals-against average, an .818 save percentage, 54 saves and seven shutouts.
Davidson appeared in 18 matches with 17 starts. He was part of the defensive unit that pitched nine shutouts, including clean sheets against NCAA Division III Tournament teams Dickinson, Rowan and St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
Sharpley appeared in all 19 matches with 17 starts. His lone goal of the season, which also was his first as a college player, was the winner in Washington’s 1-0 shutout of conference rival Gettysburg.
Sharpley also was a key member of the Shoremen’s stingy defense.
Washington, the No. 5 seed in the Centennial Conference’s six-school playoff tournament, was eliminated in the first round, 6-1, at No. 4 seed Dickinson on Nov. 5. After playing to a scoreless tie through the opening 45 minutes, Dickinson erupted for three goals in the span of 44 seconds.
The spread was 6-0 before Washington dented the scoreboard in the 71st minute.
Dickinson nabbed three of the four major awards to lead the 2024 All-Centennial team. Junior forward Saul Iwowo was named Offensive Player of the Year, freshman midfielder Nicholas Dwamena was the Rookie of the Year, and head coach Jorge Chapoy and assistants Will Flannery, Seth Stover and Toan Ngo were honored as Coaching Staff of the Year.
No. 6 ranked Dickinson (17-4-3) and three other conference schools — Centennial champion Johns Hopkins (13-3-5), the automatic qualifier, runner-up Muhlenberg (12-4-6) and Franklin & Marshall (10-3-7) — earned bids to the NCAA Division III Tournament, but only Dickinson advanced beyond the first weekend.
Dickinson won three playoff matches before its historic run ended Sunday, Nov. 24 with a loss at home in the Elite Eight to Washington & Lee, 3-2. The Generals (15-3-6) move on to their third national semifinals in four years.