By Erin Romano, Contributing Writer
As the 2025 season comes to a close, Saint Leo University’s Men’s Soccer Captain Anel Crnachas completed his final chapter with the Lions, notably leading his team to the Division II Sunshine State Conference Playoffs for the first time in a number of years. The center back has just wrapped up his fourth year on the team, having developed from a young, but promising, international arrival to a trusted leader on a highly diverse team.
For Crnac, the decision to move halfway across the globe to Saint Leo University was easy, drawn initially by the warm weather and palm trees of Florida, a drastic change from his icy homeland, Olafsvik, Iceland. That decision was solidified after a virtual conversation with Head Coach Brett Parker and a risky promise made.
“I told him I could only do this for one year, pay to go to college for one year… He said that that’s not a problem and if I would perform that he would increase my scholarship,” said Crnac. “That’s exactly what he did, he stuck to his word.”
A defining feature of Saint Leo soccer, according to Crnac, is the presence of so many internationals alongside American players. This diversity is what makes the program special, as it allows players to get to know different cultures and work in unison on a scale that is rare and distinct. This year alone, the team includes players representing approximately 13 different nationalities, and meeting players from these varied backgrounds has helped shape Crnac on a personal level.
His growth extended into his leadership role as captain. Crnac admits that learning how to be a captain and balancing the necessary responsibilities takes time. He notes that the role involves many upsides, such as gaining recognition, but there is essential work that must be done behind the scenes. He emphasizes that he has learned a lot in his leadership journey and is still continuing to learn every day.
Reflecting on his journey, Crnac provides key advice to younger players:
“Don’t get too comfortable,” said Crnac.
He recalls coming in as a freshman feeling really cocky and very arrogant because the collegiate level initially felt easy. He also notes that “down spells” are a real and humbling thing, and he has experienced them firsthand. Learning from that experience, he now hopes his successors heed his advice.
Among his four years of memories, one moment stands out for Crnac: the scoring of his first collegiate goal. This unforgettable memory occurred during his freshman year and is believed to have been against Rollins, where the then-freshman scored a header off a corner kick crossed in by teammate Alexander Mollinedo. The memory is a sweet one and will always hold a special place in the senior’s heart.
Anel Crnac reflects on his four years at Saint Leo University by relating his experiences to the University’s core values: excellence, community, respect, personal development, responsible stewardship, and integrity.
Although he feels that his journey is connected to every one of these principles, Crnac feels the most strongly connected to two specific values: community and respect.
The sense of community is felt by Crnac due to Saint Leo being a small school where, in his view, everybody knows everybody. He highlights this connection by mentioning how, no matter where he is walking on campus, he frequently encounters four or five people he knows. He appreciates the tight-knit nature of this small community and values it as part of his college experience.
The value of respect also deeply resonates with the senior, connecting it back to how he was raised.
“You can’t really demand respect without giving respect,” said Crnac. A principal quickly applied.
He emphasizes the necessity of being respectful to others, which then naturally leads to people respecting you as well, a key characteristic of a leader.
As a senior, Crnac’s final games have come and gone, but he admits the reality of his time ending hasn’t fully set in. Even after his final home game, the senior still holds on to the last few weeks of the spring semester and doesn’t want to think about his college experience being complete just yet.
What he anticipates missing most about wearing the Saint Leo jersey is playing on the field with some of his best friends and experiencing the on-field brotherhood brought on by collegiate soccer.
Crnac feels supported by the university and the athletic department, citing the dedication of staff like Frank Orlando, Faculty Athletic Representative and Instructor of Political Science, who Crnac is convinced, knows every athlete by name. He is deeply appreciative of everything the Saint Leo Men’s Soccer program has done for him, noting that it has taught him much that he will carry throughout his life.
Looking past graduation, Crnac has successfully landed a job in medical device sales and is therefore able to complete his highest collegiate goal: remaining in America. Crnac shared a message of profound gratitude for the support he has received over the past four years from professors, teammates, fellow students, and others within the community.
