2008 Men's Soccer Preview
8/27/2008 12:00:00 AM | General
After fielding one of his youngest teams in recent memory a year ago, legendary head coach Manfred Schellscheidt returns for his 21st season at the helm of the Seton Hall men’s soccer program in 2008. The Pirates battled through a hard-luck campaign in 2007, posting a
“Every year in college soccer is a new year, meaning there will be changes,” said Schellscheidt. “There are people leaving and new people coming in. We hope that last year ended up being an investment in a relatively young group.”
The Pirates’ 2007 roster featured 12 freshmen, 10 of whom return this season. With the addition of four more sophomores, including three transfers, Seton Hall’s lineup is heavily reliant upon second-year players. “We will have a great number of players ending up in the same class,” Schellscheidt commented. “We are definitely looking forward to the new season with the guys that have now played a year in the league and hopefully are stepping it up. We are also happy with the new additions and we are looking forward to a pretty exciting year. We are optimistic looking into the future and hopefully the team is ready. “
Seton Hall will be without three key contributors from 2007: Eliseo Giusfredi, Jon Lewandowski, and Justin McGrath. Giusfredi, a First Team All-BIG EAST selection who was second in the conference in both goals per game and points per game, left after his junior season to play professionally overseas. His departure leaves big shoes to fill at the forward spot, but there are several options for replacing his production of 10 goals and eight assists in 2007. “Other players will step up and as a team we’ll compensate,” said Schellscheidt of the loss.
Lewandowski, a midfielder who started 15 games while picking up a goal and two assists, and McGrath, a forward who was fourth on the team with 10 points on four goals and two assists, were the lone departing seniors. Both served as captains in 2007, and now Schellscheidt expects a new group of leaders to emerge. “We have three captains, Christian Vercollone, Hayden Morris and Steven Rose,” he said. “Two of the captains (Morris and Rose) are sophomores, and that doesn’t happen all the time. But I think they deserve to be captains because of the roles that they play on the field and off the field. Some are more outspoken and some are more quiet leaders, but I think we have good leadership. What we also always feel here is that anybody can make a positive contribution and be a leader without the title. Anyone can join in and make the kind of contribution that is fitting for a captain.”
Leading the way in 2008 will be sophomore midfielder Brayan Martinez, the reigning BIG EAST Rookie of the Year and a Third Team All-BIG EAST selection in his debut campaign.
Sophomore midfielders Steven Rose and Hayden Morris were the only players to start all 19 matches a year ago. Rose recorded three assists in 2007 and also attempted 14 shots while showing the potential to be a productive offensive threat. Morris proved to be a strong defensive midfielder who saw the most playing time of anyone on the roster. Bryan Longo, another sophomore midfielder, started 17 of 19 games as a rookie and totaled two assists. A tireless runner, Longo showed good speed up and down the field and adds to Schellscheidt’s stable of young playmakers.
Also adding depth to the midfield position are junior Erik Vendola, who saw action in five games in 2007, and freshmen Bradley Kerstetter and Giovanni Zammiello. Kersetter, who enjoyed a decorated career in
A versatile collection of players return at the forward position for Seton Hall. Senior Christian Vercollone, who can also play the midfield, started 10 of the 15 games in which he appeared in 2007. One of the Pirates’ vocal leaders, Vercollone registered one goal and four assists last year. He has shown tremendous speed and creativity on the front line that may result in even greater production in his final campaign. Senior Carlos Salazar started two of his 12 outings last year, gradually seeing more times as the season progressed. In his first year at the Hall after transferring from
Sophomore Andrew Welker was third on the team in points a year ago, totaling 11 on five goals and an assist. After spending most of the year at forward, he was moved to the backfield, where his strength and hard-nosed playing style proved effective. Welker’s versatility will allow Schellscheidt the luxury of experimenting with different lineups in the 2008 campaign. Another sophomore, Dritan Sela, will look to build upon a strong freshman season at forward. Sela made five starts while often serving as an offensive sparkplug off the bench. He netted four goals on 22 shots while showing good instincts with the ball.
Junior Marko Ciklic and sophomores Michael Dietze, Tony Dominguez and Samuel Petrone will also vie for playing time at forward for Seton Hall. Ciklic has seen action in 23 games over his first two seasons, including one start. As one of the Pirates’ biggest players, his physicality up front can pay dividends. Petrone, a transfer from Clemson, could prove to be an impact player from day one. He possesses good speed and provides a constant scoring threat.
After suffering an injury early in what would have been his final season, senior defender Yomar Gonzalez will return after red-shirting in 2007. Gonzalez, who had one assist in three games a year ago before getting hurt, will provide valuable veteran leadership and toughness to a still young Seton Hall backfield. He also has the ability to flip-flop ends of the field.
Sophomore Kurt Cameron started all 18 games in which he played in his debut season with the Hall. With great size and athletic ability, Cameron flashed the potential to be one of the league’s toughest defenders. Also entering their second seasons with the Pirates are Chris Daniele and Spencer Lawrence. Daniele played in 10 games, making five starts, and proved to be a gritty, physical player.
Junior Paul McHenry is expected to handle the primary goalkeeping duties in 2008 after making 16 starts in 2007. McHenry posted a
“I think we will probably be pretty strong in the midfield and hopefully do a better job in the back,” said Schellscheidt. “Last year that was sort of a problem. We definitely felt we gave up too many goals. On given days we scored enough goals but there were days we couldn’t keep it together in the back and lost too many games that way. The main concern coming out of last year was to shut it down a little better in the back. I’m optimistic that we can do that.”
The Pirates were picked fifth in the Blue Division in the BIG EAST Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll. “I think based on what happened last year they got us where we belong,” Schellscheidt stated. “But I don’t really pay too much attention to that because it’s speculation. Once the season gets going everyone will have a better understanding of where they really fit in.” With several schools in the preseason Top 25, the conference will once again be among the nation’s toughest and a true test for its members.
Seton Hall appears loaded with potential for the 2008 season. The ups and downs of last season that are typical of a young team should transform into a more consistent output this year. The Hall has several early season tests before conference play, including matches with Monmouth,
