Written by: Zachary Worstell (zdw001@marietta.edu)
The Marietta College men’s soccer team have wrapped up their 2025 campaign. They finished with a 5-12-2 record and a 2-6 conference record. The team placed 7th in the Ohio Athletic Conference Standings, missing out on the postseason tournament. However, a highlight of the season was Striker Parker Bolin who set a school record with 19 goals in a season.
The season started off with a road loss to Chatham University being shut out 3-0. However, Marietta had their highest scoring performance the following game in their home opener. Versus Bluffton University Marietta came back from a 2-0 deficit to win 4-3. In this game all four goals were scored by Parker Bolin, tying a school record which was last set in 1991 by Ben Cunningham.
The Pioneers stayed at .500 after their next match as they went to a 1-1 draw at Washington & Jefferson.
Afterwards, the Pioneers traveled to Lexington, Kentucky for the Transylvania Tournament. At first, they defeated Transylvania University 4-3. However, they lost their second match versus Hanover College. Hanover gave the Pios their worst defeat of the season losing 4-0.
Sitting at 2-2-1, the Pioneers scored another close win. This time at home over Mount. St Joseph. They defeated the Cougars 3-2. However, this would be the team’s final win for a month as they would not be able to win for the rest of September.
First, Marietta lost 2-1 at home versus Franciscan University. Then, they were shutout again. This time at home versus Case Western they lost 3-0. In their next game, the team was able to break their losing streak with their match vs Allegheny College ending in a 2-2 tie.
From there Marietta dropped four in a row first versus then #1 Denison University at home. Denison defeated the Pios 2-0 with the Pioneers having only one shot on goal. Next, Marietta fell 3-1 to Ohio Wesleyan on the road with the Pios having two shots on goal one being Bolin’s 11th goal of the season.
Starting their OAC campaign, Marietta lost 1-0 to Ohio Northern on the road being outshot by the Polar Bears 37-3. Their last loss of their streak came against Otterbein. At home, ‘Etta had one shot on goal again as the Cardinals drove in three for the 3-0 loss.
Now sitting at 3-8-2, Marietta was finally able to score a win. They shutout the Heidelberg Student Princes 3-0 and outshot them 25-2 on the Pio’s Senior Day. Next, Marietta went on the road versus Capital University. In Colombus, season assists leader Gavin Heighberger scored his first goal of the year. Although, the Pioneers ultimately lost 4-2 in a close matchup.
Hosting Muskingum, the Pioneers scored within the first minute and never lost the lead as they beat the Muskies 3-2. Unfortunately, this would be the team’s final win of the season.
At Baldwin Wallace, the Pios lost 2-1. Sam Holthaus scored his third goal of the season at 70:36 but the Yellow Jackets scored two straight late at 78:19 and 83:05. For their final home game versus Mount Union, they lost in a high scoring afar 6-4. Ending the season on the road versus Wilmington Marietta scored three goals on four shots but ultimately lost 7-3 to finish with a 5-12-2 record.
