Soccer star signs with 2020 NCAA national champs

Helping lead the Cowley College men's soccer team to two conference titles, a region title, and an appearance at the NJCAA Division I National Tournament, midfielder Masaya Sekiguchi recently signed a letter of intent to continue his soccer career at 2020 NCAA Division I national champion Marshall University.

After being named a First-Team all-conference selection as a freshman, Sekiguchi was named a First-Team all-conference and all-region soccer player as a sophomore as he scored nine goals and added 11 assists in the 2021 season.

The Cowley coaching staff praised the work ethic of Sekiguchi and will miss his leadership.

"Masaya was one of the best captains we ever had and was a great student-athlete," Cowley head soccer coach Ruy Vaz said.

With Sekiguchi helping lead the way, the Tigers won a school-record 18 games in a row before losing at the NJCAA Division I National Tournament in Tyler, TX.

"The coaches showed us we needed to play together in order to win," Sekiguchi said. "I improved as a soccer player, but as a student-athlete I knew I needed to study first and then play soccer.

Sekiguchi has posted a grade point average of 3.8 at Cowley. He will be joining a Marshall men's soccer team that will make the move into the Sun Belt Conference this coming fall of 2022. 

Marshall is coming off its third-straight season playing in the NCAA Tournament and has been in the top 25 rankings every week since Oct. 15, 2019. The Herd won the 2019 and the 2020 Conference USA Championships. Marshall made its run through the NCAA Tournament in the spring of 2021 (fall 2020 was cancelled due to COVID) on the way to capturing its first ever College Cup NCAA Championship. The Herd became the first unseeded team to hold the National Championship Trophy in nearly 15 years. 

"My dream is to play professional soccer and I believe Marshall will help me improve my soccer skills and academics as well," Sekiguchi said.

Vaz played for current Marshall head coach Chris Grassie when he played for the West Virginia Chaos of the Professional Development League.

"Coach Grassie's teams play the brand of style that suits Masaya," Vaz said. "He will have to elevate his game and his with his work-ethic it should be an easy transition."