On Saturday Sept. 15, Case Western Reserve University fourth-year co-captain and goalkeeper Bradley Winter etched his name into program history, recording the 17th shutout of his career. The clean sheet broke the Spartans’ all-time shutout record, previously held by Ben Yabrow, who tallied 16 shutouts during his career from 2008 to 2011.
Winter tied Yabrow’s mark just five days earlier, in a 3-0 win against Oberlin College on Sept. 10. His latest shutout now establishes him as the program’s new standard-bearer in goal.
In soccer, a shutout is credited to a goalkeeper who completes a full 90-minute match without conceding a goal, a testament to both individual skill and team defensive strength.
“If I’m being honest it was more of a relief than anything else especially with how many people were talking to me about it this past week,” Winter said. “It was one of my personal goals for the season so it was extremely fulfilling to finally break it. The goalkeeper who previously held the record reached out to me, along with some of my UAA counterparts, and that was pretty cool to see. I know it’s my name on the record sheet but I wouldn’t be doing any of that without the guys on our team defending and running for me, and without Coach Poe’s preparation and investment into me.”
On Sept. 14, the Spartans rolled past Allegheny College with a dominant 5-0 victory, improving their record to 5-0-1 on the season. Fourth-year goalkeeper Winter preserved the clean sheet with a diving save, securing both the shutout and his place in the program’s record books.
Winter has anchored the Spartans in goal since his sophomore season, amassing more than 3,300 minutes between the posts. Across 38 career appearances, he has registered 97 saves while conceding just 26 goals. A two-year captain, Winter is recognized not only for his consistency in net but also for his leadership and steady presence on the field.
“Of all the teammates I’ve had, I have never been around a more motivating, mature and knowledgeable person,” second-year forward Amir Awais said. “No matter the situation, he is the one pushing the level of our team and making us strive for excellence. Without Brad, I’m confident that not only our current team, but our entire program would not be where we stand today.”
Head Coach Carter Poe agreed with Awais, adding that Winter has truly earned the respect of his teammates.
“As a leader, he embodies our core values and everything we would want in a men’s soccer player,” Poe said. “He’s a high character young man with a great attitude, he works relentlessly and he’s extremely selfless. As a result, he commands a lot of respect from those around him because of how hard he works and how much he cares for his peers.”
Off the field, Winter has built an equally impressive resume. In 2023, he earned All-UAA Honorable Mention and CSC Academic All-District recognition, followed by All-UAA Second Team and another CSC Academic All-District honor in 2024. Beyond athletics, he serves as co-president of Case Western Reserve’s chapter of Consult Your Community and is set to graduate this spring with a degree in Finance and Business Management.
“It’s definitely surreal to be a senior this year and sometimes I still feel like a freshman just arriving at Case Western,” Winter said. “The best thing about our team and culture is that I had amazing mentors and upperclassmen who took care of me when I arrived and now it’s my turn to pass that on. I’ve been super fortunate to be surrounded by great coaches, teammates, and friends who all have made the past 4 years such an amazing experience.”
The Spartans return to action on Sept. 20 against Kenyon College before opening UAA conference play on Oct. 4 vs Rochester. Winter aims to carry the team’s momentum forward and has set high expectations for the season ahead.
“I can’t emphasize enough how great the group of guys we have is on the team and I know that will carry us forward especially as we play tougher teams in the upcoming weeks,” Winter said. “I’m super excited, specifically, for UAA play because of how the team has started off and how last year went. We are the underdogs heading into conference play which gives us everything to play for. I think this fact, coupled with the talented team we have, bodes well for an exciting run in conference play. All we can do is focus on one game at a time and getting better everyday.”