TicketsAug. 24, 2010
By Dave Malaska
GoBEARCATS.com
With another year of college experience under their belts, a decidedly veteran Bearcats men's soccer squad takes to the field this week to open 2010 with increased expectations. Coming off an 8-10-0 mark for the 2009 campaign and a 3-8-0 finish in BIG EAST play, Cincinnati lost only two players to graduation.
UC returns eight of its top 10 scorers from a season ago, when the Bearcats nearly doubled their scoring output from the previous season to finish in the top half of the conference in goals scored. That fact, along with an influx of new talent, has UC coach Hylton Dayes and his staff confident the Bearcats will end their one-year absence from postseason play in the BIG EAST Tournament.
Banking on their experience, the Bearcats will be strong along the front line, where a pair of senior standouts will lead UC's attack. Branden Stelmak, the team's leading scorer the last two seasons, returns following a four-goal, 12-point performance in 2009. Already a tough match-up for defenders, he's also coming off a summer where he tallied six goals while honing his skills for the Cincinnati Kings of the Premiere Development League. UC's other anchor at forward, Scottish-born Nick Weightman, also shined in the summer leagues (eight goals for playoff-bound Portland, Maine). Weightman played in all 18 matches last season, tallying three goals and five assists to finish as the team's second-leading scorer.
Junior Francesco Furio, a starter at forward eight times last season returns, along with senior Tristan Watson, who made a pair of starts and scored two goals as a forward last year. The Bearcats can also count on depth provided by sophomore Christian Myton, who saw playing time as a true freshman last season, and newcomers Sam Stull, a second team All-Ohio selection for Grandview Heights High School after a career 70 goals in prep play, and Jeff Addis, a first-team all-state selection last year for Dublin (Ohio) Jerome High.
The Bearcats' midfield picture is a bit more settled then last season, when at least a dozen players made their way into the playing rotation.
Mark Konitsch returns for his senior season after logging four goals and finishing third in scoring with 10 points. Matt Bahner, now a junior, played 17 matches at wide midfield last season and should return there for a lion's share of playing time after scoring three goals -- including two game-winners in 2009.
Meanwhile, junior D.J. Albert is a solid choice for central midfield, while a cadre of sophomore talent will bolster UC's numbers. Dan Cooperider, one of the sophs, started nine matches for UC last season, while classmate Shamar Shelton could have a major impact. As a freshman for Lindsey College before transferring, the Jamaican-born Shelton helped his team to the 2009 NAIA National Championship. UC can also count on playing time from fellow sophomores Andre Sharpe and Roger Thompson, while Addis and Myton can easily shift into the midfield as well.
Cincinnati's defense struggled to find its feet last season, but led by Luke Henke and Judson McKinney, found the right mix by the end of the season. Unfortunately, both were lost to graduation, leaving Dayes and the UC staff searching for a new back line this season.
Tinkering with a new tandem in the preseason, the candidates have been plenty. They include the sophomore duo of Zach Patterson and Danny Mortemore, who played the position during the spring season before getting injured. True freshman Alex Hadley will get a look, and junior Sam Klosterman, who filled in during the spring, may also be an option. The Bearcats hope to settle on a pair of center backs by the time the season opens, but it could become a season-long effort.
A pair of transfers could also figure into Cincinnati's defense -- Mike Brizzi (Cincinnati State) and Dan Dwyer (Houston Baptist), the younger brother of former Bearcat standout Mike Dwyer.
In goal, UC redshirt senior Matt Williams has the most experience after seeing time as a starter the last two seasons. After posting two shutouts last season to go with 57 saves, he will have a chance at being Cincinnati's starter in goal for the season opener. Redshirt sophomore Joey Barnard, who started UC's first two exhibition games this fall, is the only other returning Bearcat with experience in goal after starting last season's final match, making nine saves in a loss. Joe Kalt, a true freshman from Cleveland, could also see playing time as a backup.
UC opens the season on September 1st, hosting Dayton at Gettler Stadium. The 7 p.m. start kicks off a stretch of four straight home matches to open the season, including contests against Appalachian State and Fordham as part of the BIG EAST adidas Challenge.