2015 Men's Soccer Preview

The West Virginia University men’s soccer team is looking for its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2011 this season after narrowly missing out a year ago.

The team returns 20 letterwinners, including nine starters, from the 2014 squad that went 11-7-1. The Mountaineers were unbeaten in seven of their last nine games.

“It might be the best team I’ve had since I’ve been here,” coach Marlon LeBlanc said. “It’s a pretty bold statement to make, but I feel pretty good about this group.

“We’ve got a lot of guys that are hungry on a team that was the first team out last year for the NCAA Tournament. We were No. 31 on Selection Sunday and just missed out.”

West Virginia swept the postseason Mid-American Conference (MAC) awards as Andy Bevin was named the Player of the Year, Joey Piatczyc was named the Freshman of the Year and coach Marlon LeBlanc earned Coach of the Year honors.

Goalkeepers

Going into the season, the goalkeeper position is once again up in the air, but LeBlanc believes that he has two No. 1s who can rotate based on the style of the opponent.

Redshirt freshman Alec Boerner returns for his second season with the program after sitting out last fall, and LeBlanc considers him one of the top shot blockers he has coached.

“Alec played six games this spring and had five shutouts,” LeBlanc said. “The only game he lost was to the Columbus Crew. He’s a guy coming back that’s probably in the lead as far as that’s concerned. He’s capable of being the No. 1.”

LeBlanc also brought in junior Daniel Diaz, who transferred from Yavapai College, and has some of the best footwork LeBlanc has seen. Diaz helped Yavapai to a 20-1-2 record last season and recorded a 0.32 goals-against average.

“We brought in one of the top JUCO goalkeepers in the country in Daniel Diaz,” LeBlanc said. “He comes with two years experience and you’re looking at an older guy who will hopefully find some rhythm and be a guy like Nick Noble or Zach Johnson.”

LeBlanc also brought in sophomore Stephen Banick from Wingate and freshman Konrad Dziedzic. Banick played in 20 games last season with a 0.94 goals-against average, posting a 14-5-1 record, while Dziedzic was invited to the U.S. U18 Men’s National Team camp.

“We have some depth and quality at the goalkeeper position. It’s been a point of issue with us the last few years,” LeBlanc said. “We’ve had such a solid defense that gives up four shots or less per game. That’s good for the defense, now we just have to keep the ball out of the net and we think we have some guys who will be capable of doing that.”

Defense

Three starters return on the backline in sophomore right back Louis Thomas and senior centerbacks Haydon Bennett and Francio Henry. The trio has played in 98 career games, starting 79 along the backline.

As a freshman, Thomas made an immediate impact, playing in 19 games with 17 starts, and recording six assists.

“We really could have four centerbacks in our starting lineup playing in some different roles,” LeBlanc said. “Louis Thomas came in and won the right back position and got quite a few assists from that role. He has a great engine to get up and down. Unfortunately he’s unheralded in a lot of the things he does because he makes the other team defend.

“He can get box to box and keeps the opponent pinned back with the runs that he makes. We expect him to only get better heading into year two and he is a staple in our lineup.”

While the centerback position is solidified in Bennett and Henry, they will be joined by fellow senior in Zak Leedom, who has been a regular starter in the midfield but will move back to left back in 2015.

“Zak Leedom will try out at that position. He wants to look at that for an option,” LeBlanc said. “We talked about Robbie Rogers and the LA Galaxy last year when they won their fifth MLS Cup. Robbie Rogers never played left back before and Bruce Arena turned him into a left back and it worked out great for him.”

Midfielders

There are a number of options in the midfield this season due to the depth at the position with six players returning who have starting experience.

Junior Jack Elliott will move to a defensive midfield position after playing centerback in his first two seasons. Elliott has been a mainstay in the lineup with 38 games played and 33 starts.

“He was such a good centerback in terms of covering and breaking things up and tackles, and obviously his ability on the ball,” LeBlanc said. “I rolled the dice a little bit and let’s see if he can do those same things in midfield and take the pressure off of the backs. He did a fantastic job and has come into preseason the most informed player.”

Juniors Mike Desiderio and Christian Diaz each have starting experience and will be interchanged in the other defensive midfield role. Desiderio started 16 games last year with two goals and four assists, and has the ability to be a shutdown defender. Diaz has started 31 games during his first two seasons, including 12 in 2014, and can provide veteran leadership.

“Mike has such great balance and fight and drive,” LeBlanc said. “He has magical moments in him as well, where he strikes the ball from 30 yards out and hits the crossbar at Western Michigan, or scores the game winner at Penn. He has those moments where he rises to the occasion.

“You can also throw in Christian Diaz, who has two full years of experience and has played a lot of minutes. We have great depth in that defensive midfield position.”

Senior Jamie Merriam will lead the offensive attack this season after registering nine goals and five assists in 2014, ranking second on the team and fifth in the conference in goals.

“Jamie had a big year last year. He really grew as a player, tactically and hitting the back of the net,” LeBlanc said. “He’s the kind of kid that if he scored nine last year he’s going to score 15 or 20 this year.”

Senior Ryan Cain will aid Merriam in the goal-scoring department after finishing with four in 2014. Cain has spent the majority of his career with nagging injuries, but is fully healthy entering this season.

“Having a healthy Ryan Cain is a good thing for this team because he is such a hard-working 90-minute player,” LeBlanc said. “He just doesn’t stop going, both sides of the ball. He is ready for his breakout season and his senior year is a great time for it to come.”

Piatczyc is back for his sophomore season after having a breakout campaign in 2014. Piatczyc played in 17 games with 14 starts, and was tied for the team lead with eight assists.

“The kid is a soccer player. He plays well above his years,” LeBlanc said. “The thing I love about Joey is that his qualities are mostly cerebral. He gets the game and knows how to play different roles in the midfield.”

Forwards

The Mountaineers will looking to fill the void left by All-American Andy Bevin, who scored a team-leading 13 goals last season en route to being named the MAC Player of the Year.

In addition to Merriam and Cain, LeBlanc feels like he has a number of guys who will take over that role. Sophomore Jad Arslan returns after scoring five goals in 2015, sophomore Jack Driscoll had a breakout performance in the spring season, sophomore Heath Honold joins the team from Wake Forest, junior Felix Angerer transferred from the University of the District of Columbia and freshman Tucker Stephenson has shown great promise.

“You throw in Jad Arslan, he can play anywhere. Tucker Stephenson can play in Joey’s role,” LeBlanc said. “Jack Driscoll had a breakout spring for us. He became really good at finding the goal. Heath Honold is a runner off the ball, similar to Andy Bevin in terms of his movement and wanting to find seams.

“Felix Angerer is a 6-5, 185-pound center forward who has good pace and good feet, but can really win headers. (Freshman) Rushawn Larmond is shifty and dynamic and can beat you off the dribble. We have a number of different players who can break you down a number of different ways.”

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