Last season, the NSU men’s soccer program had the best run in program history, ranking No.3 in the country. As such, the team has been working hard to become national champions this fall. During the off-season, Head Coach Matt Watts recruited and signed seven players for the 2022 roster.
Santiago Rodriguez Marengo plays in the men’s soccer Senior Night game on Oct 19. PHOTO BY INDAYA BYER
Among these players is the sophomore Santiago Rodriguez Marengo.
With a No. 16 on his back, Marengo joined the NSU Sharks for the second season of his collegiate career. As a freshman, he played for Lindenwood University, starting in all 16 games, scoring two goals and assisting on four occasions.
The former forward, now a midfielder, has acknowledged the high-performance level necessary to play on NSU’s team.
“I think the level is very good,” said Marengo. “I knew I was coming to the No. 3 team of the nation.”
Marengo played twelve out of fourteen games and has only started from the bench thus far. It was not until his eighth game that he found the net for the NSU Sharks. Against Embry-Riddle, the Argentinian scored and assisted for the first time in his NSU career.
Santiago Rodriguez Marengo and Farid Sar-Sar celebrate the end of a game with a teammate’s embrace. PHOTO BY SANTIAGO DIAZ FINOCHIETTO.
“Although he does not start, Santiago knows he is a key component to this team when coming from the bench,” said Farid Sar-Sar, team captain. “The energy he puts in, not only on the field, but in practice, does not go unrecognized.”
As the season has gone on, Coach Watts has given him more opportunities to deliver. In the game against Eckerd College on Oct. 22, Marengo played 34 minutes, almost half of the game, and scored for the second time as a shark. “Coach Matt wants us to work extremely hard to get a spot in the starting line-up,” said Marengo. “As time passes, I am getting more and more minutes on the field.”
The Sharks won 7-1 in this game against Eckerd.
Team captain Farid Sar-Sar plays in the men’s soccer Senior Night game on Oct. 19. PHOTO BY INDAYA BYER.
Although the Sharks have not shown the same consistency as they did last season, with almost as many losses as wins, both Marengo and Farid made it clear that they expect to keep their title as the reigning Sunshine State Conference Champions.
“I enjoy every time the coach calls my name,” Marengo said. “I am very excited to show what I can do.”
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