WORCESTER — A year after winning just two games, the Assumption University men’s soccer team found its footing in 2026, turning a disappointing season into a return to the Northeast-10 Conference tournament.
The Greyhounds finished 7-7-3 overall and 4-3-2 in conference play, earning the No. 6 seed in the NE-10 tournament. The five-win improvement reflected a shift in culture, confidence and accountability.
At the center of the turnaround was senior captain Jorgo Karamelo, a Worcester native and St. John’s High graduate who returned healthy after watching much of the Greyhounds’ 2-12-1 campaign from the sidelines.
“The culture of the program needed to change the most,” Karamelo said. “Being injured last year and not being able to play was frustrating because I could see opportunities where the season could have gone differently. This year, being healthy and having more control over my impact, I took it personally to help improve the mindset and belief around the program.”
For Karamelo, rebuilding the team began with restoring its confidence.
“Making people believe was first and foremost,” Karamelo said. “I wanted everyone involved to believe we could compete and create an identity that would work against anyone, regardless of the opponent or circumstances.”
That belief translated into memorable performances, including a dominant Senior Day victory and a dramatic road win.
“There are two moments I won’t forget,” Karamelo said. “Our 6-2 win at home on senior day was a beautiful moment for us and showed what we were capable of when we were playing our best soccer. The second was a hard-fought win at Southern Connecticut State in the final 10 seconds.”
The season carried added meaning for Karamelo, whose ties to the Worcester soccer community run deep. Born in Korçë, Albania, he grew up in Worcester and played four seasons of varsity soccer at St. John’s in Shrewsbury before continuing his career at Assumption.
“It truly means a lot to me to stay close to home and my family, while also staying connected to St. John’s, which helped shape me into the person I am today,” Karamelo said. “I was able to carry those lessons through four seasons at Assumption, and having the opportunity to captain this team was really special.”
While Karamelo helped reshape the team’s mentality, sophomore Moises Morales saw the transformation take shape on the field.
“For me, this year we established an identity in how we wanted to play early on,” Morales said. “I think what improved the most from last season was mostly the confidence and trust we had in each other to play possession-based soccer. That confidence in each other was the real gamechanger, allowing us to play freely and with joy.”
That trust was on full display in Assumption’s 6-2 victory over Saint Anselm, a performance Morales considered a defining moment of the season.
“One game, for instance, was our 6-2 win over St. Anselm’s,” Morales said. “The goals speak for themselves, but diving into the actual match, you see the coordination and working together of the team in full flow. Each player played for the people around them, a family of brothers who played with heart. After this game, I think it was a wake-up call to the rest of the league to let them know the level we can compete at.”
The Greyhounds also demonstrated their resilience in a 1-1 draw against Southern New Hampshire, maintaining their composure against a nationally competitive opponent.
“We showed a high level of grit, combined with the composure to not panic and stick to our style of play,” Morales said. “That game demonstrated the team’s ability to raise the level for the occasion, competing against one of the top teams in the nation.”
Beyond their improved play, the Greyhounds developed a stronger sense of responsibility to one another.
Junior Matthew Randazzo credited that accountability, along with a shared commitment to team goals, for helping Assumption move forward.
“We did a really good job of holding each other accountable on and off the field, and we set realistic goals that we wanted to achieve,” Randazzo said. “Everyone knew what was expected, and we kept pushing one another to stay focused on what we wanted out of this season.”
The results challenged expectations for a program picked to finish last in the conference preseason poll.
“We went from being placed last in the NE-10 preseason poll to competing in the playoffs,” Randazzo said. “I think that showed how much we really did improve over the course of the season and how much more we were capable of than people expected.”
Assumption’s return to the conference tournament represented more than a five-win improvement. For a team that entered the season looking to rebuild, it was proof that a change in culture could produce a change in results.
As the Greyhounds look toward 2027, Karamelo hopes the foundation established this fall will outlast his playing career.
“We proved that we weren’t afraid to play anyone, and we believed with all our hearts that we could win on any given day,” Karamelo said. “I hope the culture we created off the field is strong enough to carry forward and help the program in the years to come.”
