NEW HAVEN, Conn. – After leading the Ivy League in scoring and earning the league's offensive player of the year award, Mark Winhoffer was already going to have a prominent role on the 2020 Yale men's soccer team. Recently, he learned he will take on a little added responsibility. Winhoffer has been elected captain of 2020 Bulldogs.
 
"It is a great honor and privilege to be able to lead a team with so much history, and ultimately a team that is a lot bigger than myself," Winhoffer said. "The ability to be able to receive the torch for the 113^th year gives me great pride. I hope to be able to learn from our previous captains who all did such a great job in bringing the team together. I also hope to continue to put the jersey in a better place and have the Class of 2021 leave our legacy on this program."
 
Winhoffer enjoyed a breakout season for the Bulldogs last fall. In addition to earning offensive player of the year accolades, he was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Northeast Region first team, earned first team All-Ivy recognition and was selected All-ECAC. Winhoffer finished as the league leader with 23 points (6 goals, 11 assists). His 11 assists were one shy of the school record, and he was sixth in the nation in assists per game (0.56).
 
"Mark has a great story from being our last recruit in his class to becoming the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year last season, and now team captain for Team 113," said Kylie Stannard, the 5K Corral Head Coach of the Bulldogs. "Mark loves soccer and competing as much as anyone I've ever coached.  His passion for the game and drive to improve Yale men's soccer has been a great part of our growth as a program and overall team success.  He has learned from the teams and leaders before him, and with support of his fellow teammates, we know he will do a great job in his role as captain."
 
Winhoffer, part of a six-member Class of 2021, will have plenty of support leading the Bulldogs.
 
"I think my classmates are integral in the buildup to next year and during the year. We have a great mix of personalities, and we are always looking out for one another and also pushing one another," he said. "I see my class sharing responsibilities in leading the team. These guys have been there for me since day one, and I cannot wait to start our last season together."
 
Winhoffer has international experience that has helped his development at Yale. He played for the Philippine National Team at the Asean Football Federation Under-23 Championship in Cambodia in February of 2019.
 
"Being in the mix for the national team always had me working harder and had me striving to be better," said Winhoffer, whose mother was born and raised in the Philippines before coming to the United States for college. "Being able to compete against top level countries elevated my game. I don't speak the language, so it also helped me develop relationships through soccer that I hold to this day. Playing for your country adds motivation to your game as you are representing 100 million people."
 
In addition to success of the field, Winhoffer has excelled in the classroom. He earned Academic All-Ivy honors in the fall, and last summer had an internship as a consultant for an IBM Chief Analytics Office.
 
2019 was a memorable season for the Bulldogs, who matched the school record for overall wins (13), captured the Ivy League championship for the first time since 2005 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
 
"I think the seniors last year did a great job of bringing the team together and making us feel like a family," Winhoffer said. "We are losing a lot of great players and personalities. However, we hope to continue this team ship and start our new identity as Team 113."