Men's Soccer Preview
August 05, 2009 12:00 PM | General
August 5, 2009
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| Marlon LeBlanc |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - When you dump the contents of a puzzle out of its box and the pieces lay scattered all over the floor, it is tough to gauge how difficult it will be to put them together and how nice the final product will turn out. That was coach Marlon LeBlanc’s job last year with numerous new faces and a crowd of freshmen. A season later, the overall picture has started to come together and the puzzle is beginning to take shape.
The Mountaineers welcome 10 freshmen to the team and while it might take some time to figure out the strengths of each newcomer, the credentials they bring to Morgantown only make WVU a deeper squad. In terms of offense, this class is expected to be one of the best in program history. It is also the component that the Mountaineers believe can carry them to the next level.
And that next level is outlined by the three goals LeBlanc has set out for this team – all feats he believes are within reach and can be attained. The first goal, which must happen to reach the next two, is to return to the BIG EAST Tournament. The Mountaineers have qualified for postseason play each season under LeBlanc’s watch and dating back to 2004. The next mission for WVU is to earn one of the 48 spots in the NCAA Tournament – something WVU has accomplished in two of LeBlanc’s three seasons. The team’s final objective is to reach the Final Four of the College Cup.
Despite the high expectations, the Mountaineers believe they have the upper-hand. Permitting a strong showing in the early stages of the conference tournament, WVU will have the opportunity to compete for the BIG EAST Tournament title on its home field as the semifinal and final matches will take place at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
With a strong coaching staff and several key parts of last year’s squad still intact, the Mountaineers hope the incoming class is the final piece of the puzzle that can help them achieve success.
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Maworere
was bestowed all-BIG EAST Honorable Mention accolades for the
second-straight year. A team player, Maworere started off the
year at midfield, but moved back to defense after the team was
hurt by numerous injuries to strengthen the back line. He is one
of only five players in WVU history to be honored by the league
multiple times. 
Not
only did the Mountaineers record eight shutouts over the course
of the season, but the defense made it nearly impossible for
opponents to fire off shots, holding teams to less than 11 shots
per contest. WVU kept No. 19-ranked Notre Dame to a season low
four shots. The Mountaineers also held opponents to less than
five shots on-goal in 10 of its 19 matches. The back line is
expected to be as tough, if not tougher, with it returning all
of its key pieces in 2009.Goalkeepers
While it is always tough to be comfortable heading into a season not knowing what obstacles and challenges lie ahead, having a goalkeeper like Zach Johnson surely can settle one’s nerves. The 2008 BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year and all-BIG EAST first team selection put together one of the best single-season performances in program history in 2008.
“I think when you have one of the best goalkeepers in college and arguably the best goalkeeper in the BIG EAST, there is a sense of reassurance in your backfield that you are going to be in every single game, no matter if you are struggling to find the back of the net,” LeBlanc said. “Zach gives us the ability to be in a game when we’re not at our best.”
Last year, Johnson started all 19 contests and remained in between the posts for every minute of action (1,814). Besides tallying eight shutouts, the Lumberton, N.J., resident ranked fifth in the nation in save percentage (0.862) and 19th in goals-against average (0.64). On top of setting numerous school records, Johnson also matured into a seasoned veteran in only his second collegiate season in goal.
While Johnson, a redshirt-junior, showed he has enough endurance to go an entire season, he will have two talented and reliable netminders backing him up in Yale Tiley and Paul Killian.
Tiley, who received a redshirt last season, saw some time in goal during the spring and knows he can be called upon at any moment. A newcomer, Killian brings a wealth of goalkeeping experience. The Maryland native was a three-year starter at Marriotts Ridge High and recorded 11 shutouts in 20 contests as a senior.
“We’re almost like Goalkeeper U. with All-American Nick Noble, now Zach Johnson and hopefully Yale Tiley and Paul Killian,” LeBlanc added. “Mark Carr does a great job with our goalkeepers. Having depth at the goalkeeper position and every position has been a goal of ours.”
Defense
Senior Gift Maworere and sophomore Ruben Garrido, who were stellar on defense last season, will return to their normal positions at midfield, but the Mountaineers will not miss a beat as Jason Bristol, Ryan Gillespie and Raymon Gaddis return to the back line.
“We saw a good mesh early on with two freshmen in Gaddis and Garrido and Jason Bristol, who is now a senior,” LeBlanc stated. “That chemistry was cultivated a lot in the spring and they’re all better, stronger, tactically more aware and technically better players. We think that is going to continually be a strong point for this team and certainly they are a big part of why we were in every game last year.”
While the defensive unit was the strongest and most consistent on the field for WVU in 2008, the potential is there for it to become even more difficult to solve in 2009. Last year, the back line held opponents to less than 11 shots per contest and a lowly .063 shot percentage.
Bristol, the leader of the back line, has transformed into a tenacious defender who is difficult to get by because of his 6-foot-5-inch frame and ability to constantly win headers.
Gaddis, who was a highly touted athlete coming out of high school, blossomed into a staple for years to come. Despite his lanky frame, the then-freshman became known for his aggressive play, strong right foot and knack for starting counter attacks.
Gillespie, now a senior, rounds out the trio on the left side and also is known for being a major factor in the counter attacks. The left-footed defender stretched the field and used his power to send accurate crosses into the box. This year, however, he could be expected to challenge for his starting role with the return of Connor Gorman, who missed all of last season with an injury.
Kyle West, who missed nearly all of last season with an injury, and incoming freshman Eric Schoenle also are expected to vie for time on the pitch.
Midfielders
In terms of numbers and athleticism, the midfield is arguably WVU’s deepest position.
Maworere, who spent the majority of 2008 bolstering the defense, will return to his natural position as a midfielder in 2009. An extremely gifted and athletic individual, the two-time all-BIG EAST honorable mention recipient has an incredible ability to spread the field and is vital to setting up an attack. Garrido also spent time on the back line, but is returning to the midfield.
Another major returnee to the midfield is redshirt-junior Chase Dewese, who missed 2008 with an injury. An experienced and crafty player, Dewese adds another dynamic to the midfield. Despite not being back at full strength, he was able to rack up minutes in the spring season and displayed his game-changing abilities when he is on the field.
Declan Coll and Alex Silva, who comes off a brilliant freshman campaign, are two more bright spots for the Mountaineers. A sophomore, Silva proved to be clutch as a freshman when he scored game-winning goals against No. 4 Connecticut and No. 22 Ohio State. On top of that, he began to develop into a dangerous offensive threat with his phenomenal dribbling skills and amazing accuracy on shots outside of the 18-yard box.
The Mountaineers also add to their arsenal with newcomers Nathan Adams, Tuan Doan, who scored two goals in the spring season, and Travis Pittman, giving WVU eight different options at the midfield.
“I think that’s the biggest challenge for a coach, but also the greatest joy for a coach,” LeBlanc said of having numerous choices to plug in at midfield. “When you have so much talent and so much potential, how do you get them all on the field? You can’t, but that competition makes the guys better every single day. Any coach will tell you that players get better when they have competition for their spots. That added depth at midfield and talent influx with a great group of freshmen coming in – we think it is only going to make us a better team.”
Forwards
While other positions on the Mountaineer roster reload for the fall, the offense only returns two true forwards in sophomores Adam Mills and Michael Pitrolo. Unfortunately, neither played a full season in 2008, as Mills missed multiple contests because of injuries and Pitrolo only played in nine matches.
Pitrolo, however, did earn substantial playing time in the spring and showed signs of improvement. After adding nearly 10 pounds to his frame and becoming more aggressive on the offensive side, the Parkersburg, W.Va., native could fly under the radar this season.
“I think Mills and Pitrolo need to be big this season,” LeBlanc acknowledged. “It’s going to be a little bit easier this year because we have more pieces in place. When I say easier, I say it with a grain of salt. I don’t think the game is going to be easier, but it’s going to be harder for teams to just focus on those guys to shut them down. They have to worry about (Abel) Shadow Sebele, Travis Pittman and Gift Maworere now coming through the midfield as well. We have a few more weapons that should take the pressure off of them.”
The rest of the offense is expected to come through newcomers Moeryhan Doue, Uwem Etuk, Sebele and Matt Strauss.
All have proven throughout their high school careers that they possess the ability to find the back of the net on a consistent basis, but one player whose credentials stand out are Sebele. Not only does he possess blazing speed, evident by his successful high school track career, but he tallied 70 goals in 71 matches and tacked on 50 assists.
“In Sebele, we have a proven goal scorer,” LeBlanc exclaimed. “A natural goal scorer is something we have not had since Jarrod Smith. We have created goals, manufactured goals, been great on set pieces and free kicks and getting leads and putting teams away, but now we have kids who are pure goal scorers. Shadow Sebele will score goals and he will create goals for himself.”
And one thing that makes LeBlanc more confident about this year’s offensive group is its dedication and ability to work hard to improve.
“Our guys will fight tooth and nail and leave it out on the field,” LeBlanc said. “We’re going to be playing a very attractive brand of soccer. We’re going to attack with numbers. We’re going to play with a system that’s going to complement the attacking players that we have. We’re going to take risks and we’re going to take chances. We’re going to go forward en masse and with great numbers. This year, we’ll be better suited to be a more offensive-branded team.”
