2009 PAC Men's Soccer Preview

BETHANY BISON (2-14-2 Overall, 1-4-1 PAC in 2008)

GENEVA GOLDEN TORNADOES (12-7 Overall in 2008)

Being only one win away from a national tournament in back-to-back seasons may seem frustrating on the surface, but for head coach Todd Beall and the Golden Tornadoes it serves as motivation heading into the 2009 campaign. Beall has guided the Golden Tornadoes program to back to back 12-win seasons and consecutive trips to the NCCAA Eastern regionals. Unfortunately, Geneva has seen each of the past two seasons end at that regional tournament. As the 2009 season begins, the goals are clear for Geneva College and Beall as they prepare to take the next steps to success.

While the past two years have been rewarding, nothing brings a quicker smile to Coach Beall’s face than talk of the 2009 prospects. “We feel as though we have put together a very exciting mix of talent for the upcoming season,” Beall explained. “We did not lose much in terms of offensive production last year, but we do have some holes to fill in the back.” In order to find offensive losses to graduation, one must flip to page two of the statistical sheet. In other words, the top nine scorers from 2008 will all be returning to the mix in 2009.

At the top of that offensive list from a year ago is Bruce Fox (left) with ten goals and 21 total points.

Alongside Fox was then freshman Josh Mann, who scored four goals in his first collegiate season. Geneva will also welcome back a healthy Jake McCracken to the fold, along with Zachary Buffalini, both of whom combined for seven goals last year.

While the offense looks to be set for the upcoming season, it will be the defense that Todd Beall will be looking to solidify early in the fall. The Golden Tornadoes will have to replace two-time captain and team leader Mark Zurbrick in the back. Meanwhile, senior David Callahan will take over the goalkeeper job on a full-time basis after splitting time with Sam McCracken a year ago. “There is no doubt that we have to find some guys to step up on defense,” said Beall. “We feel very good about our potential to put the ball in the net, but we need some other folks to help out in front of David and give us defensive support.”

Leading the way on defense among returning players will most likely be Chris Morshl, a two-year starter on the back line. Morshl also showed a propensity to move forward and be effective with a pair of game-winning goals in 2008.

The fun for college coaches is to see how their newcomers will fit into the program. Coach Beall is extremely excited about his 2009 recruiting class and feels very confident that several will make immediate contributions. “All the signs are there for several of our freshmen to come in and contribute,” Beall said. “We are going to get an early look at many of these kids who will have an opportunity to win a job early in the season.”

Because of the influx of new talent, Beall will have many more options to choose from when it comes to filling out his line-up card. “It is the one problem any coach loves to have,” said Beall. “We will have tremendous internal competition which will ultimately make our program stronger. We are much deeper in terms of our all around depth than in any other year I have been at Geneva.”

SAINT VINCENT BEARCATS (7-11 Overall in 2008)

Coming off of a disappointing 7-11 finish a year ago, the Saint Vincent men’s soccer team looks to improve with a healthy mix of seasoned veterans and talented newcomers.

The Bearcats entered preseason practice with 25 players – the deepest roster in Harmon’s 11-year tenure at Saint Vincent.  Though they return seven starters from last season, Harmon feels that the play of his newcomers may be the key to his team’s success in 2009.

“With so many freshmen,” said Harmon, “you just hope that they step up quickly, because we’re going to ask some to do so. Some freshmen come into their first year ready to play right away and make an impact, where others can take two or three years before they are factors.”

Harmon also hopes to reverse his team’s fortune in one-goal games, as the Bearcats went just 4-7 in such affairs.

“I wasn’t happy being on the losing end of so many one-goal games,” he said.  “You’re right in every one of them, but we just couldn’t get it done.  We’re going to change some things this year, so maybe if we’re up one goal late, we can put a team away, or if we’re down late, we can come back.”

Though youth permeates the roster, the Bearcats do return a number of veterans who are looking to put a cap on successful careers, including the senior trio of Luis Rodriguez (right), Matt Fecik and Ben Fecik.

Rodriguez, a senior forward, was the most prolific scorer in the PAC a season ago, finishing with 31 points on 14 goals and three assists. Three of his goals were game-winners, while he also was a perfect 2-2 on penalty kicks, as he earned PAC Coaches Honors for the second consecutive season.

Senior Ben Fecik, who has split time between midfield and forward in his first three years at SVC, was another PAC Coaches Honors recipient a year ago, as he finished five assists – good for fourth in the PAC – along with three goals.  

Ben’s brother Matt is also a three-year starter, and has excelled as a physical defensive midfielder, while also possessing excellent field vision and ball skills, as he scored one goal with three helpers in 2008.

“Those three players are the core of our team,” Harmon said.  “We’re really looking for them to lead us and to keep our younger guys going in the right direction.”

The team will have a number of returnees vying for time at midfield, including seniors John Woodruff and Jim Vargo, junior Alex Lardin, and sophomores Christian Ricci and Nick Pollino.  Midfield is also one position where Harmon expects a freshman to make an impact right away, with first-year player Anthony Balistreri impressing many in the opening days of practice.

“We’re going to look for Ben Fecik to continue being an offensive midfielder,” Harmon said, “while we may also move him up top with Luis. Balistreri has looked good in camp so far, and it looks like he’ll be able to contribute right away. We have a lot of returning guys with midfield experience, plus with the other freshmen, you just never know.”

A pair of two-year starting defenders – Ibra Fancher and Andy Bianco – have been lost to graduation, but the Bearcats return two underclassmen who saw extensive time in all 18 games last season in Dean Jordan and Ben Skvarca. 

The speedy Jordan, a sophomore, played every minute of every game last season, playing well beyond his years. Skvarca, a junior, also started all 18 games, battling through shoulder injuries. 

“Jordan and Skvarca are coming back on the outside, and I expect them to pick up right where they left off last year,” Harmon said. “We may move Ricci back on defense in the middle, and we’re trying to find another center back during camp, and if anything, we feel comfortable with Matt Fecik in the back, too. We’re exploring our possibilities, and it’s still too early to tell.”

The Bearcats also return a pair of talented sophomores in goal. Gabe Cooper and Jacob Gilbertson shared the keeper duties in 2008, each tallying a shutout and boasting save percentages of .780. The two are again battling in camp for the starting job, while athletic freshman Clemente Mejia has also looked good in the preseason.

“It’s a strong battle in goal,” Harmon said. “Cooper and Gilbertson were both good for us last year, and Clemente has been promising early on.”

The 2009 schedule will be a tough one for the Bearcats, as they open up on Sept. 1 with D-II Seton Hill University before traveling to an early tourney at Marietta, Ohio, where they will face perennial D-III tournament participant Maryville University.  In addition, Saint Vincent will face Pitt-Greensburg, Franciscan, Allegheny, Carnegie Mellon, Baldwin-Wallace, Kenyon, Juniata, Lycoming, and Frostburg State before opening up the conference slate with Bethany on Oct. 3.

“Right now,” Harmon said, “I can’t even predict what our record might be before conference play. We honestly could open up the year 8-4, 6-6, or 2-10, I just don’t know. It’s a really tough non-conference schedule, and the idea is to get ready for the PAC schedule.”

In their final year as a provisional member of NCAA Division-III, Harmon hopes that he is grooming his team to be ready to compete for a playoff spot right away in the PAC when it is eligible to do so next season.

“We want to be one of the teams to beat in the conference next year,” said the coach.  “It’s a good conference, and with the parity, any team could beat anyone else on a given day.  I want us to be in the top four next year and make the conference playoffs.”

THIEL TOMCATS (5-12 Overall, 1-5 PAC in 2008)

The 2009 edition of Thiel College men’s soccer will be looking to continue the trend of improvement that began when third-year head coach, Andy Hoggarth, took the helm in 2007.

“I am expecting another season of progression from the returning players and feel that the size and strength of the incoming class will provide them with the push that they need to continue their development,” said Hoggarth.

The men of Tomcat soccer will be led by two-time all-PAC performer, Chad Swisher.  The Alliance, Ohio, native led the team or tied for the lead in goals (6), shots (33), assists (2) and points (14). The Tomcats will need Swisher to step up even more so this season however with the exit of graduated scoring threats, Robert Glass and Sammy Koyl.

“Last year I was happy with Chad’s performances in what was a tough year for him as teams were obviously able to target him from his standout freshmen year in 2007,” said Hoggarth.

Running alongside Swisher will be senior, Dale Grimm, who missed all of last season with an injury. “Having Dale back after a season ending injury in our second game last season will help us…as captain we know exactly what we are going to get from Dale day in day out on and off the field,” Hoggarth said.

With last year’s number two, three and four scorers no longer on the roster, the Tomcat defense led by sophomore defender, Darwin Porras, and senior goalkeeper, David Rafle, will be depended on even more so to stop opposing teams.

Helping Hoggarth will be newly hired full-time assistant coach, Aaron McGuinesss.  “I also believe the addition of Aaron to the sidelines can only have a positive impact on our performance,” said the third-year coach. “With the experience he brings from Australia and a solid four-year career at Shenandoah University.” McGuiness is the first full-time assistant the third-year coach has had in his tenure at Thiel.

The men will need to exorcise the demons that confronted them on the road last season which lead to them being winless when away from the friend confines of Alumni Stadium, as the will be playing six out of their first nine games outside of Greenville.

“I felt that last year we constantly started slowly in our away games,” said the third-year coach, “so if we can eradicate that slow start where were likely to concede an early goal then we should be ok.”

“With this in mind it is vital that with our first four games being on the road that we get off to a good start in order to achieve what we want to this season and make a push to be winning games when conference play starts,” said Hoggarth.

THOMAS MORE SAINTS (13-5 Overall, 4-2 PAC in 2008)

The Thomas More College men’s soccer team will look to win the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) and advance to its first-ever National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament this season.

Head coach Jeff Cummings will have an experienced group to make that push in 2009. The Saints will return four of their top five scorers from last season, which accounted for 64.1 percent of the team’s goals last season and 60 percent of the team’s points last season.

Leading the list of returners is junior forward Aaron Osborne (left), who was named first team All-PAC in 2008 after leading the Saints in scoring with 29 points on a team-high 15 goals and five assists.  He took 63 shots, including 29 on goal, in 18 matches.  The other top scorers returning this season are second team All-PAC senior forward Joey Tensing, honorable mention All-PAC selection junior midfielder Dan Miller and sophomore midfielder Ricky Barria. Tensing was second on the team in 2008 with 21 points.  He scored eight goals, had five assists, and took 21 shots, including 13 on goals, in 17 matches played.  Miller appeared in only 13 matches and had nine points on two goals and five assists. Barria was fifth on the team in scoring with six points on three goals off of eight shots, including five on goal.

“It’s the first time in quite a long time where we have more upperclassmen that are going to contribute and have a good nucleus of our scoring returning,” said Cummings.

The top goalkeeper returning for Cummings this season is sophomore Zack Lawson. Lawson had a 2-0 record in 2008 as he appeared in two matches and recorded six saves and allowed only one goal.

The Saints open the 2009 campaign on Sept. 1 when they host Anderson University at 4 p.m. at The Bank of Kentucky Field in Crestview Hills, Ky. Thomas More will actually play six of its first seven matches at The Bank of Kentucky Field.

WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON PRESIDENTS (9-8-4 Overall, 4-1-1 PAC in 2008)

The 2009 Washington & Jefferson soccer program will rely on numerous players to fill the void left behind by a talented graduating class. The 2008 seniors accounted for much of the Presidents' production last season, including 46 percent (12-of-26) of the goals, 69 percent (11-of-16) of the assists, 30 percent (92-of-309) of the shot attempts and nearly 100 percent of the goalkeeping stats.

The 2008 Presidents opened the season with 0-3-1 record, but used a second half push to again secure its second-straight spot in the PAC Tournament Championship match.  W&J dropped a double-overtime heartbreaker against Westminster, 2-1.

The 2009 roster will feature just three seniors, while 13 juniors will make up the focal point of the team. The Presidents will return six starters off last season's squad, including senior Dan Hart and juniors Stephen Bosak, Sean Maddock, Mike Pappas (right), Chris Skovira and Josh Weber.

Hart started 12 games last year and returns to the starting lineup after scoring five points (2 goals, 1 assist). Pappas and Skovira, who both recorded one goal last year, will again be mainstays on the Presidents' offensive attack.

Weber, who recorded two goals in 2008, will be expected to improve upon his offensive production this season, while Bosak and Maddock will focus much of their attention on setting up teammates from the midfield position.

The biggest question mark for 19-year head coach, Ian McDonald, will be replacing four-year starting goalie Tyler Hodgins. Junior Brandon Kern and freshman Simen Myrum will battle for the open position in preseason camp. Kern appeared in one game for W&J last year.

The Presidents will be without their leading returning scorer from 2008, Jonathan Moore, who suffered an off-season injury and will likely miss the entire 2009 season. Moore tallied nine points (4 goals, 1 assist) last season.

 

WAYNESBURG YELLOW JACKETS (5-13-2 Overall, 0-5-1 PAC in 2008)

Waynesburg head men’s soccer coach Carl Dei Cas, who is beginning his fifth season with the program, has eagerly been anticipating the 2009 season. He believes that after several years of fruitful recruiting, the Yellow Jackets have matured and are ready to make a move in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC).

After a couple of years of freshmen gaining starting time and advancing to their sophomore, junior and senior years, this year’s Jacket team features a bevy of veterans in the starting 11. This team of veterans will try to improve on a 5-13-2 performance in 2008, which included no PAC victories.

Up front, Dei Cas believes three players have set themselves up as the lead competitors for the forward spots. Sophomore Erick Burke (left) leads the group after being named honorable mention All-PAC following the 2008 season. He is the leading returning goal scorer for the team with four, and finished second on the team last year with 10 points (four goals, two assists).

Junior Ryan Hartz is expected to move from midfield to forward this season and talented freshman Jared Dobsch has already impressed his new head coach with his abilities. As a senior at Monessen High School, he tallied 35 goals for the Greyhounds and was a two-time all-section pick.

The Jackets are also solid at midfield, where a pair of former All-PAC performers, junior Ryan Gaudy and senior Mike DeAngelis, will lead the group. Gaudy finished third on the team in goals last season with three, while DeAngelis tied for fourth in assists with a pair of helpers.

Senior Jeremy Pronto and sophomore Matt Snyder are also expected to compete for starting time, along with senior Chris Crimone. Dei Cas also likes his team’s depth at the position, with freshman Phil Henry leading a big group of backups that will be competing for playing time.

At defense, sophomore Dave Floyd is back as a central defender and looks to build on a very successful freshman season that saw him start every game in his debut year with the team. Another sophomore, Joshua Brewer, is expected to man the other central defender spot.

Junior Andy Glenn is a leading candidate for a starting job in the defense, along with sophomore Kyle Collins, assuming he can recover from a preseason injury. If Collins cannot go, Dei Cas is confident that freshman Ben Jonard can pick up the slack.

Speaking of depth, Dei Cas likes this year’s crop of his backups at defense. Freshmen Andrew Bergey and Tyler Condron, along with sophomore Evan Kaufmann, will be among the first players to see time off the bench.

When it comes to the last line of defense between the opposing attack and the goal, Dei Cas is leaning towards starting junior Tyler Hellwig at keeper. His primary backup appears to be first-year senior Luke Navickas, who stands 6-5 in net.

However, with four goalies on the team’s roster, there will certainly be plenty of competition for field time.

Waynesburg opens the season with eight road dates, including tournaments at Geneva and John Carroll. The Yellow Jackets will finally make their home debut on Sept. 23, when they host Muskingum for a 7 p.m. game under the lights of John F. Wiley Stadium.

WESTMINSTER TITANS (17-6 Overall, 6-0 PAC in 2008)

Has the Westminster College men’s soccer team made it? Well, the Titans are coming off a season in which they won more games than any other team in school history. They also won their third Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship and narrowly lost to the No. 3 ranked team in the nation while playing the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Still, there is a lot more to accomplish, according to 12th-year head coach Girish Thakar.

“We want to be the team that everyone looks to and says, ‘This is the team to beat,’” Thakar said. “And not just being happy to be there.”

Something like that takes more than just one year of unprecedented success.

Westminster enters the 2009 season with 14 returning lettermen and eight returning starters from a team last year that went 17-6 and 6-0 in the PAC. After cruising through the PAC regular season, the Titans won both games of the PAC tournament, qualified for the NCAA tournament, defeated Hunter, 2-0, in the first round, and lost at No. 3 and unbeaten Montclair State, 1-0, in the second round after the teams were scoreless for 70 minutes.

“We’ve done really well and we are ready to take the next step and go further in the NCAA Tournament,” Thakar said. “But to achieve that we have to win the conference title. We didn’t go into the game against Montclair State just happy to be there. We knew we could win the game. But getting to get to that level is the first step. It’s going to be difficult.”

The Titans are 12-0-1 in their last 13 regular season conference games dating back to the end of 2006.

“We want to be consistent in the regular season,” Thakar said. “Our team has gained confidence knowing what we’ve done in the last few years. The hard part is going out and winning the conference tournament. Our focus must be to continue the success we have had in the conference.”

Obviously, Thakar is making sure the Titans are not overlooking the conference for the rest of the nation just because they were unbeaten in the regular season the last two years.

“In the conference we weren’t that far ahead of everyone,” Thakar said. “How strong are we going to be? That will be determined by the players we have coming back.”

Of the eight starters returning in 2009, two of them were first-team all-PAC selections last year. They include senior forward Brice Lott (right) and junior goalkeeper Mike Codita.

Lott is a two-year starter who ranked second on the team in goals for three straight years, including a career-high 11 in 2007 and eight a year ago. Codita is also a two-year starter who posted 99 saves (.798) and a 1.17 goals-against average last year.

Three of the starters gone were first-team all-PAC players, including PAC Player of the Year Garrett Horvath and his team-best 12 goals last year.

“We are losing three players and those three players made a difference,” Thakar said. “It will be interesting to see who fills those shoes.”

Lott tied two other teammates with eight goals for the Titans last year, including senior midfielder Jarred Smeltzer and sophomore forward Coty Hainsey. Senior Ian Hill also potted seven goals a year ago.

Including Codita, Hill, Lott, and Smeltzer, the other four returning starters make up the defense back line in senior Justin Flowers, junior Shawn Flowers, sophomore Jason Mezyk and sophomore Jake Huey.

“We have some really solid defenders back,” Thakar said. “They will keep us in a lot of games.”

But still, Thakar recognizes the benefits of having a two-year starter in Codita between the posts.

“The strength is our defense, and it starts with Codita,” Thakar said. “He has aspirations and they are not just to be a good goalie but to be the best. He makes a difference.”

The midfield is where personnel decisions will be made entering the season.

“The question mark is who is going to play in the middle,” Thakar said. “Those are the players who make things happen.”

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