One of only two All-America First Team award winners in the glorious 32-year history of the UW-Oshkosh men's soccer program, Derek Kasten produced an impressive three-year career while playing for the Titans from 2001-03.
Kasten, a forward, was a starter in 57 of the 59 UW-Oshkosh matches he participated in. The Whitnall High School graduate concluded his career with 42 goals, 25 assists and 109 points. He currently ranks third in UW-Oshkosh history in both career goals and points.
Kasten, who also owns 14 career match-winning goals, helped the Titans to a remarkable 50-8-2 record and three NCAA Division III postseason appearances.
Kasten played his first collegiate soccer season at Division I UW-Milwaukee in 2000. Kasten started one of the 10 contests he appeared in for the Panthers and totaled two goals, one assist and five points. He had the match-ending goal during UW-Milwaukee's 1-0 double-overtime victory over the University of Detroit Mercy (Mich.).
Kasten then transferred to UW-Oshkosh for the 2001 season. His impact with the Titans was felt immediately as he tallied seven goals, five assists, 19 points and two match-winning scores. Kasten's performance helped UW-Oshkosh to a 16-3 record and an appearance in the second round of the Division III Championship.
Kasten collected Division III All-Central Region First Team honors in 2002 after leading the Titans with his 15 goals, five assists, 35 points and five match-winning goals. He sent a pair of shots into the goal during UW-Oshkosh victories over Marian University, Edgewood College, UW-Whitewater and St. Norbert College. UW-Oshkosh concluded the 2002 season with a 13-4-2 record and an appearance in the second round of the Division III Championship.
The 2003 season was an exceptionally memorable one for both Kasten and UW-Oshkosh. The Titans opened the season with 21 straight victories before suffering a 3-2 loss to Trinity University (Texas) in the semifinal round of the Division III Championship. Kasten received Division III All-Central Region First Team and All-America First Team honors after pacing UW-Oshkosh with his 20 goals, 15 assists and 55 points.
Kasten had a team-best seven match-winning goals in 2003, including the decisive score in the final regulation minute of UW-Oshkosh's 1-0 victory over Wheaton College (Ill.) in the third round of the Division III Championship. Kasten's goal also was a historic one as it was the 1,000th score in UW-Oshkosh history.
Kasten's final season as a Titan also included a pair of goals in UW-Oshkosh victories over St. Norbert College, Edgewood College, Calvin University (Mich.), UW-Whitewater and UW-Platteville.
Kasten, a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll, was selected to the league's All-Centennial Men's Soccer Team in 2012.
Following his graduation from UW-Oshkosh in 2004, Kasten played soccer for the A-League Milwaukee Wave United, the Croatian Eagles Soccer Club and FC Indiana.
Kasten is a 2007 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic (Iowa) and has been a chiropractor for the past 15 years. He is currently the owner of One Love Chiropractic in Asheville, N.C. Kasten, who was named one of the 2016 winners of the Asheville Top 40 Under 40 Award, has been selected as one of the best chiropractors in Western North Carolina by the Mountain Express for the past nine years.
Kasten, who founded and directed the Kicks 4 Kids Charity Soccer Tournament to support children with developmental disabilities, lives in Fairview, N.C., with wife Casey, daughter Layla and sons Tate and Lennon.
