Season Preview: Malone Men's Soccer Sports New Coach, Much Larger Squad
There has indeed been change from one year to the next
during the 44-year history of the Malone University men’s soccer program but
perhaps none greater than the transformation from the 2008 squad to the 2009
unit. The current edition of Malone
men’s soccer, led by first-year head coach Chris Carmichael, not only has a new
coach on its sidelines but the squad also sports the largest roster in school
history with 36 total student-athletes donning the Pioneer red, white and
blue. And each one will be striving to help
the team vastly improve upon last year’s 3-14-1 record (1-10 AMC).
Although Carmichael, who is also a full-time Biology professor at Malone, is a
first-year coach for the Pioneers, he is no stranger to the game of soccer
having coached numerous club teams since 1998, many of which won division
titles and competed as state cup finalists. He was also a technical trainer for
the University of West Florida men’s soccer program and was an outside
midfielder and defensive back at Eastern
Illinois University. Chris has also earned his USSF D and NSCAA
Advanced Regional and National diplomas.
Although only 13 players on the 36-man roster return from a year ago, this
baker’s dozen still represents at least half of a potential 20-22 person
varsity roster for any given contest.
Carmichael worked diligently prior to his initial campaign to recruit
enough student-athletes to form a junior varsity squad. Although last year’s team did make an effort
to have a JV squad, the extra contests and additional players were limited. This year, the Pioneer JV team will easily
have an entire unit and will play a fairly hefty 10-game schedule throughout
the team’s regular intercollegiate slate.
“We’re excited to be using a new reserve squad for the development of future
varsity players,” commented Carmichael. “And also to test different types of
systems. We’ll also likely have varsity
players on this squad who maybe didn’t get much or any field time in the
varsity contests to continue to develop their game as well.”
Leading the way for the returnees in ’09 is senior midfielder Ross Cochran (Paisley, Scotland),
the captain for the team who has three years of collegiate experience and who
is “our best player in terms of technical skill” according to Carmichael. Others at the core of the team include
sophomore forward Paul Traxler (Mason H.S.), last year’s leading goal scorer
(3) and NCCAA All-East Honorable Mention, defender Jordan Smith (So., St.
Thomas Aquinas H.S.), who also earned NCCAA honorable mention honors and who
will “bolster down the defense, is technically very sound, and has good field
vision and a good sense of the game” according to Carmichael.
Equally as strong are midfielders John David Eades (So., Central Christian
H.S.) and Josh Jones (Sr., Warren Local H.S.), and goalkeeper Warden
Neuenschwander (Jr., Linden,
VA), who posted a 2.51
goals-against average last season playing in nine games (most for a goalkeeper
on the team).
Returnees also just as key to the program’s success include defenders Dan
Wallace (Jr., Norton H.S.) and Jerome Robinson (So., Kingston, Jamaica),
midfielders Josiah Mould (Jr., Loudonville H.S.), forward Francisco Espinosa
(Mexico City) and goalkeeper Phil Bookhamer (So., Edinboro, PA), who posted
complete games in the net in the final four contests of last season.
In addition, two outstanding players who did not play last year but who were
members of previous Pioneer squads are sophomore midfielders Luke Freckelton
(Mannering Park, Australia), who took a year off and is “coming on strong”
according to Carmichael, and Nic Ugrin (So., Pretoria, South Africa), who
played for Malone in 2006 and has been playing impressively and will play a key
role in the defense and midfield.
The Pioneers are also not short on solid incoming talent as
top newcomers Sam Erchick (Fr., F, Alliance H.S.), Alex Hall (Fr., F, Mass.
Washington H.S.), Allen Meffan (Fr., M, Lake H.S.),
Adam Sharpnack (Fr., F, Pittsburgh,
PA), Jake Zimmerly (Fr., D,
Norwayne H.S.) and Brandon Morales (Fr., D, Brampton, Ontario)
look to make immediate contributions.
Transfers Lucas Correa (Jr., M, Campo Grande, Brazil), from Adelphi University (NY), Vinicius DaSilva
Morais (Jr., F, Porto Alegre, Brazil), from John Brown University (AR), Phil
Fisher (Fr., M, Lake H.S.), from Lake Erie College,
and Ryan Smith (So., D, Perry H.S.), from Freed-Hardeman University (TN) will
also likely be key contributors to the team.
“We have an attack-minded bunch of players and I think that will be a real
strength for us although we have to do a better job of finishing once we have
an opportunity to do so,” noted Carmichael. “We really have the best of both worlds with
a strong attack and some new guys who can defend really well. We’re very strong technically and we have
good speed and good camaraderie. And
another strength is that these guys are very coachable and willing to do what
is asked of them.”
“An area of concern for us might be
that, with all the new players we have, they’re just learning the difference
between high school and college play, the speed of play, including handling
time, distributing the ball effectively and using quick touches and making the
correct off-the-ball runs and staying well connected on the pitch, and,
learning news systems of plays and roles of various field players that they may
not have seen before. There are going to
be many challenges early in the season, but with continued training, and hard
work, we are confident they will be successful.”
After a loss to NCAA Div. III John Carroll University (away) to open the season on Tuesday, the team will host its home opener against Concordia (MI) University on Friday at 4:00 p.m. and then Aquinas (MI) College on Saturday in another 4:00 p.m. home contest as part of the Canton Comfort Inn-Subway Challenge
Complete 2009 Malone Men's Soccer Schedule
2009 Malone Men's Soccer Roster