SALISBURY, Md. - The Salisbury University men's
soccer team missed the NCAA tournament for the first time in five
years last season. The Gulls fell on hard luck and received no
breaks as they went 11-5-1 and lost in the Capital Athletic
Conference semifinals to No. 3 York (Pa.) College. The Gulls want
to erase those memories in '07 as the maroon and gold returns one
of the deepest and experienced teams in school history.
Salisbury has a cabinet full of talent as 58 percent of
its goal production returns from a year ago along with 73 percent
of its assists. SU coach Gerry DiBartolo,
four-time CAC Coach of the Year, enters the '07 campaign just 11
wins shy of the 300 career win mark. He enters his 26th season at
SU with a 289-145-34 career record. SU looks to reverse its luck
and contend for a sixth conference championship and a return to the
NCAA postseason.
"Our goals remain the same each year, to win the CAC and earn a
bid in the NCAA tournament," said DiBartolo.
Forwards
Salisbury historically has one of the best offensive teams
in conference year in and year out. Last season, was no different
as they were second in the CAC with a 2.59 goals scored per game
average. The Gulls also took 125 corners a year ago and were a
perfect 5-for-5 on penalty kicks. SU lost a key cog in the
offensive wheel with the graduation of striker Wijy Jones who tied
for the team lead with nine goals and sported a six-game goal
scoring streak.
Junior Nick Malone (Salisbury,
Md.) returns as the team's top goal scorer as he led the
club with 22 points in 2006. The junior netted nine goals and
started in all 17 games. Malone averaged 2.49 shots per game and
ranked second on the team with 24 shots on goal.
"He [Malone] had a great 2006. He and Wijy [Jones] formed a
dangerous pair of forwards," said DiBartolo. "Nick had a great
spring. He trained hard and played well in Europe and is coming
into camp healthy."
"The offense this season will be just as well if not more
efficient than last season. I feel more comfortable on the ball and
so do my teammates," said Malone. "Some new faces will help our
offense along with the returning starters from last year. Losing
Jones as a partner up top will be difficult but I will pick up the
remaining slack this year. I am ready for the challenge."
Midfield
SU has an extremely talented and versatile core of
midfielders, who saw meaningful game time last season, returning to
the pitch in 2007. After a breakthrough freshman season local
product Kyle Sterling (Salisbury, Md.) will join
seniors Andrew Henciak (Bel Air, Md.) and
Zach Grubb (Aberdeen, Md.) in the midfield.
Sterling had 16 points (six goals, four assists) in his freshman
campaign and became a starter by the end of the season. Sterling
also led the team with three game-winning goals and averaged 1.22
points per game when he started.
"Kyle came on strong the second half of last season," said
DiBartolo. "I think this will be his breakout season. He can play a
couple of position for us. He is stronger, quicker and has improved
his skill level tremendously. Throughout our Europe trip he was our
most dangerous offensive weapon."
Henciak is a redshirt senior and has taken the field 41 times
for the Sea Gulls since 2003. The outside midfielder has recorded
two career goals and one assist.
Rounding out the potential starters at midfield is fellow
upperclassman Grubb. The senior midfielder returns with 31 games
under his belt, eight goals and one assist in his career at SU.
Defense
The SU soccer trademark under DiBartolo has been their
defense. In 2006, the Gulls recorded six shutouts which included a
4-0 shutout of Marymount (Va.) University in the CAC tournament. In
the six shutouts the SU defense really shined as they gave up only
13 shots on goal and a mere 36 shots total. The Sea Gull defense
allowed 1.29 goals per game which was almost a goal more than the
previous two seasons (0.47 in 2005 and 0.57 in 2004).
"We had to mix and match players in different spots last
season," said DiBartolo of his defense. "This season we have a lot
more stability, players are in their second year of the system and
know their responsibilities."
The maroon and gold defense will need to return to form this
season and it has just the backers to do it led by the lone
defensive senior, David Kroening (Rochester,
N.Y.).
"Last year, we had some young guys fit into roles that they
haven't had too much experience with. Now that they have had a year
to grow, it looks like they're getting more comfortable and
confident," said Kroening. "That coupled with what looks to be
tough competition for spots should have everyone on top of their
game."
"He [Kroening] plays hard and is very emotional on the field and
is a huge piece of this team's success," said DiBartolo. "He had a
great summer playing holding midfielder for the Virginia Legacy of
the PDL."
Kroening started all 17 games in 2006 and has logged 44 total
games in his career to go along with his 11 career points (three
goals, five assists). The senior is a co-captain and will be
expected to be the leader on the defensive half of the field. He
will also have the responsibility of shutting down the opposition's
most dangerous goal scorer.
"I'm quite honored to have been selected for the position. As my
teammates could tell you, I take a more in practice/in game role as
a leader. I guess I prefer to lead by example on the field but when
I notice something I never hesitate to speak up," said Kroening.
Sea Gull junior Steven Merrow (Shaftsbury, Vt.)
looks to build off a stellar sophomore campaign where he played in
every game and started in 15-of-17. Merrow is listed at 6-2 and
uses his height and leaping ability to his advantage to cause
numerous problems for opposing players especially when battling for
loose balls.
Sophomore Justin McGrath (Perry Hall, Md.) saw
substantial time as a freshman in 2006 as he appeared in 16 games
and started seven. He flourished with his excellent ball control
abilities. McGrath is one of the fastest players on the field at
all times with and without the ball at his foot.
Goalie
Once again the Salisbury goalie position is up for
grabs this season. Competing for the starting job will be senior
Matt Blue (Easton, Md.), junior Greg
Wellingoff and sophomore Josh Scotton (Delmar,
Md.).
"We are really excited about our options at goalie this year,"
said DiBartolo. "The competition in camp and throughout the year
will keep our guys prepared and playing their best."
Blue returns as the most experienced player in regards to game
minutes. He started in eight of the nine games he played in and
posted a 5-2 record and a shutout. Blue made 25 saves and only
allowed nine goals.
Scotton saw limited action last season (two games, 58:16
minutes) but made two saves and did not surrender a goal.
Wellingoff was not with the team in 2006 however he did play two
games, giving up no goals, in 2005.
"Our goalkeeping was exceptional in Europe. All three players
made significant contributions to the team," said DiBartolo.
Schedule
Salisbury once again sports one of the toughest conference
and non-conference schedules in the region. Salisbury kicks
off the 2007 campaign as they host their annual Elmer Lord Memorial
Soccer Classic during the first weekend of September. A week later
the Sea Gulls travel to Raleigh, N.C., to partake in the Esprit
D-III Soccer Tournament where they finished 2-0 last year.
Salisbury will then hit the road with a trip to New York for the
second ever meeting against a tough Rochester team on the 23rd of
September. SU shutout UR last season by the score of 1-0. The
maroon and gold will continue their strenuous road schedule on
September 29th when they travel to York, Pa., as they match up
against the two-time defending CAC regular-season and tournament
champions, York. The Spartans are currently riding a 40-match
unbeaten streak and ended the 2006 season 21-0-3. SU hosts CAC
newcomer Wesley on October 3rd in their first meeting since 1996.
The Gulls have dominated the all-time series 9-1-1 and lost the
previous match-up 2-1. The Wolverines sported a 10-game win streak,
recorded 12 shutouts and finished up the 2006 campaign with a
14-5-2 record. Salisbury's last out of conference test will be on
October 17th when they host Christopher Newport who had a 15-5-2
record last season and won the DIAC championship and made an
appearance in the NCAA tournament.
"We schedule the best team that we can every year. Our
conference games will be a big test for us. We added some new teams
from the ODAC as well as some more local games [Wesley and
Washington (Md.)] to our out of conference lineup," said DiBartolo.
European Summer Trip
The team got an early start to its 2007 campaign as it took a
preseason trip to the Netherlands and Germany for a European Soccer
Tour from August 6-14. The Sea Gulls participated in three soccer
friendly matches and took in a cultural experience that started in
Amsterdam and moved to Cologne and finally departed from their last
stop Nurnberg, Germany.
SU received two coaching sessions with the German and Dutch
national coaches. The trip included tours of each city along with
visits to the Amsterdam football (soccer) stadium, Ajax museum, a
cruise of the Amsterdam canal, German Sports and Olympic Museum,
and a visit to the Adidas-Sportschuh Museum in Herzogenaurach.
"The experience was great, the team bonded on and off the field,
and we played extremely well," said DiBartolo.
Summary
The Sea Gulls will be tested with a tough schedule but
their success will be determined by how the upperclassmen step up
on both sides of the ball. The offensive attack could be one of the
best in the nation, paired with an already feared defense is a
winning solution for SU to return to the NCAA tournament.
"We had a great recruiting year. We got who we wanted and I feel
that this year's camp will be the most competitive in five years,"
said DiBartolo. "We have a lot of eager young players who know they
need to play hard and our exceptional level for the players as well
as the team are really high. We will continue to work hard and play
hard to reach our goal in becoming CAC champions."
