Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world, which combines stamina, heart, vocal leadership and gritty toughness. The Bobcats have incorporated all those traits into their game over the last four years, compiling a 35-29-14 record, including a Cinderella run in 2023 that culminated in the program’s first Mid-American Conference championship.
One of the vocal leaders during this run was goalkeeper Celeste Sloma, a two-sport athlete in soccer and basketball at Worthington Kilbourne, who chose Ohio. She chose Ohio because of Head Coach Aaron Rodgers and his devotion to his players.
“I chose soccer because it was an escape for me, where basketball kind of added more stress and more on my plate,” Sloma said. “Aaron (Rodgers’) son first saw me because he had the same trainer as me, and after talking with them, I could tell they were down-to-earth, wanted to know me as a player, and I knew I’d mesh super well.”
In her freshman year, she started nine games in place of all-MAC goalie Sam Wexel. She finished the season with a winning record, two shutouts, 28 saves, and a .757 save percentage.
“I was very intimidated,“ Sloma said. "I didn’t really have any expectations to play. It was a really good experience to get that playing time at a young age in college. You grow up and play club or high school, but nothing prepares you for college soccer until you’re in it.”
Sloma had a historical sophomore season for the Bobcats, leading the team to its first conference championship with back-to-back shutouts over Eastern Michigan and Akron to give the Bobcats the final seed in the MAC tournament. She finished the season with the fourth-most saves in program history with 97 and eighth in save percentage at 0.815.
“I was feeling really confident going into that season after playing well on my summer team,” Sloma said. “All the credit in the world to the team, flipping a switch with two games to go and winning the tournament fueled our momentum by the doubt of other teams. It was such a surreal experience that I can’t put it into words.”
In her junior year, she continued to be an enforcer in the net, leading the team to an 11-5-3 record with 10 shutouts, which was good enough for second in MAC, 63 saves, and an .829 save percentage, the second highest in program history.
“I think a lot of my growth came in my last two years, trying to be the best vocal leader and support beam I could be for the team,” Sloma said. “I have so much respect for the coaches who’ve supported me throughout the years and my teammates who I’ve grown alongside.”
As a senior this season, the team finished 5-9-5 with Sloma finishing fourth in the MAC in saves with 68, and sixth in goals against with 1.053. The story of the season was missed opportunities as the team lost seven one-score games, but that didn’t break the team’s spirit, constantly smiling and appreciating every game like it was their last.
“With a majority of our team being seniors, we never wanted to look at the hardships as a down movement,” Sloma said. “After losing two crucial players early on, we learned to do it all for each other. Being able to end the season on a win was special to us because, unless you’re in the championship, you always end the season on a loss.”
Over her four-year career, she slotted herself into the program’s record books with the third-most saves in program history with 256, and fourth in save percentage at .800. Sloma became the program’s new average goals against leader at 0.96, and shutouts leader with 23.
“Being in an atmosphere where you support and go through the tough times together has really been important to my and the team’s growth,” Sloma said. “This program and the university have done so much to help me grow. I’d say anyone coming into this program will be in the most loving, supportive environment where you’ll be encouraged on and off the field.”
