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2008 Season Preview....MEN’S SOCCER LOOKS TOWARDS CHAMPIONSHIP
WILKES-BARRE, PA— At the start of every season, a coach looks for the right motivation for their team. In 2008, head men’s soccer coach Mark Bassett knows exactly what to use. Get back to the MAC Freedom Conference championship, this time with a better result. In the 2007 Championship game, the Monarchs suffered a tough loss to DeSales University in the final of the tournament. This year, the team will battle for a better result.
The Monarchs prepped for the upcoming season as the returning players ventured to Europe late in the summer to play a series of international games in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria. The practice time and game competition will play a major factor in getting the team ready for the 2008 campaign.The Monarch offense is headed by senior forward Cameron Audette (Ballston Lake, NY/ Shenendehowa). In the 2007 campaign, Audette had an outstanding year. He rang in 14 goals and assisted four times. His excellent play was honored several times. He was named Player Of The Week twice, and in the post season, earned the title of Freedom Conference Player Of The Year. He played in all twenty matches and looks to set up another great offense.
Joining Audette at forward will be senior Mark Timko (Scotch Plains, NJ/ St. Joseph’s Metuchen) and junior Grant Parsons (Pen Argyl, PA/ Faith Christian-Roseto). Both of these forwards are threats on the attack. Timko set up three assists, and Parsons tallied two goals and three assists. They are ready to step up their game to the next level and lead the Red and Gold deep into the playoffs. Also adding depth in the forward will be sophomore Andrew Neyer (Cheltenham, PA/ Bishop McDevitt). Neyer will look to come into his own this season and help the Monarchs. Freshman Joe Bender (Shirley, NY/ William Ford), will look to contend for significant playing time.
At the midfield, sophomores Daniel Mortenson (Woodbridge, NJ/ Woodbridge) and Dan Horn (Kingston, PA/ Bishop Hoban) will earn their spots on the roster. Last season, Mortenson was third in scoring with five goals and three assists. Horn was right behind him with one goal and three assists. Both of these players will be valuable on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball in 2008.
Since the midfield position requires covering both halves of the pitch, depth will be invaluable this season. Filling out the midfield squad will be senior Mike Buckwash (Coal Township, PA/ Lourdes Regional), who came off the bench last season and looks to step into a bigger role this year, and junior Brian McElroy (Dresher, PA/ Upper Darby). McElroy was huge in the transition game, getting back on defense to support the counter-attack. Sophomore Dan Carle (Halifax, PA/Halifax) will contend for a starting spot. Senior Nate Buckwalter (Birdsboro, PA/Daniel Boone) will also add experience to the position. Also seeing time this season will be freshmen Sean McEnroy (East Moriches, NY/ Westhampton Beach), Kyle Rowan (East Stroudsburg, PA/ Pocono Mountain East) and Sam Cressler (Dillsburg, PA/Northern York).
In 2007, the defense proved to be the bread and butter of the Monarchs success. Several players were key in this kind of outstanding defense. This year’s back four will be led by 2nd Team All-Freedom Conference selection senior Ryan Symons (Wilkes-Barre/ Coughlin). Symons played and started in every contest and tallied one goal. He looks to step up his game yet again this season and lead the backfield to more success. Senior Paul Racz (North Branch, NJ/ St. Joseph’s Metuchen) will also support the defense. Racz played and started in nineteen games last year and showed the conference how to play solid, fundamental defense.
Also playing defense this season will be juniors Alex Henery (Monroe, NY/ Monroe-Woodbury), Patrick McCarthy (Bensalem, PA/ Conwell-Egan), and Brian Haldeman (Mechanicsburg, PA/ Trinity). The trio will not only add depth to the defense, but will help the younger players adjust the college game. Sophomores Josh Stocker (Nazareth, PA/ Nazareth) and Kevin Moulton (Mountaintop, PA/ Crestwood) will be joined by freshmen Billy Elliott (Pleasantville, NY/ Pleasantville), David McLoughlin (Howell, NJ/ Howell), and Jeff Glashan (Neptune, NJ/ Neptune).
Competing for the starting job at goalkeeper this year will be junior Richard Melber (River Edge, NJ/ River Dell) and sophomore Tim Kelly (Philadelphia, PA/ Archbishop Ryan). Both players are inexperienced at the collegiate level but have worked extremely hard to handle the duties between the pipes.
The new season kicks of August 30th at the King’s Tournament at the Betzler Fields. King’s is slated to kick off against Green Mountain college at 3:30pm on Saturday and the again Sunday against Penn State Berks at 3:30pm.
The soccer team will also play several games under the lights on the newly installed synthetic turf surface at Betzler Fields.
as of 8/30/07
King's College
133 North River Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
1 (888) KINGS PA
Questions or comments to: Bob Ziadie, King's College Sports Information Director
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