Gardner-Webb Ready For 2007 Season
August 23, 2007 | Men's Soccer
Team. If coaches and student-athletes come together to form a team that is built on a solid foundation, then it can go to heights never before reached. In all his years of coaching, Tony Setzer has always preached the importance of the team and teamwork. Last year, the Gardner-Webb men's soccer team soared higher than ever before. Not only did the program make the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship for the first time in school history, it was the No. 2 seed in the competition and went on to win the tournament, earning its first-ever bid to the NCAA Championships.
After advancing past UAB on penalty kicks and reaching the second round of the tournament where they fell to No. 9 Clemson, Setzer and his squad were already looking ahead to the 2007 season. This year, despite the loss of several key players due to graduation, the Bulldogs are still the team to beat in the A-Sun. Other schools in the league put a bulls-eye on GWU's back in hopes of knocking the team off and not allowing it to repeat as conference champions. However, Setzer's philosophy has been to take care of his own team and the rest will work out on its own – and that is what he has done.
With 11 upperclassmen that include four seniors and seven juniors, the Bulldogs have the experience to know what it takes to win. The six sophomores provided solid play during their rookie campaigns and should once again bolster a strong line-up. If those 17 players step up and play solid ball, it will give the 11 rookies a chance to adapt to the collegiate game. Once adjusted, the freshmen could provide great depth and thrive under Setzer's command and help the squad become the first team to ever garner back-to-back A-Sun titles in school history.
FORWARDS
With the return of their 2006 leading scorer Richard Godfrey, the Bulldogs will have one of the most potent scoring threats in the conference. During the 2006 season, Godfrey's first in Boiling Springs after transferring from Schoolcraft Junior College, he tallied 20 points on seven goals and six assists. Two of the goals were game winners.
Godfrey and Ryan Snodgrass are the two that have recorded A-Sun experience at the forward spot and have the proven ability to score. After totaling a goal and an assist in 2006, Snodgrass will try to be more of a force during his junior campaign.
In addition to those two, Setzer's newcomers could also step in immediately and vie for playing time.
Gerard Hefferon is a 6-2 forward that has two years of junior college experience under his belt. His height should make an easy target for the midfielders and defensive players when they want to play the ball long.
A rookie in the mix is Guy Mbanyamsig. Mbanyamsig has great playmaking skills and is able to find the back of the net.
At times, Bradley Morrison could each slide up from his midfield position to add more depth.
MIDFIELD
Four players that saw significant action last season return at one of the focal points for the Bulldogs.
Leading the way is Miguel Pinzon. After having a good season a year ago in which two of his shots found the back of the net, Pinzon could have a breakout year. Having started all 21 matches in 2006, Pinzon dished out three assists which is the second most among returning players.
Fellow second-year player Logan Swaim started 14 of the 18 matches in which he played last year. Also tallying three points on the year, Swaim can set up players or make the good defensive play. His experience will also help the team in 2007.
Jarrett Jackson only started three times last year, but saw playing time in 19 matches. He gives the Bulldogs a solid player coming off the bench and will vie for a starting job this year.
Morrison, who played in nine matches and got the starting nod twice, could be a key contributor in the midfield for GWU. At times, Zach Burkett could move up from his defensive position, where he started 17 of his 21 matches a season ago.
Two newcomers could see valuable minutes for the Bulldogs and could push for playing time from the outset of their collegiate careers. Eric Asanin-Miroux and Adam Augruso, who each bring a wealth of knowledge to the team, are both above 5-9 and could form a tremendous nucleus in the midfield for the next four seasons.
DEFENSE
The only defenders back that played in at least half of the matches in 2006 are seniors Jordan Traylor and Timothy Oswalt and junior Zach Burkett. With a big frame and good jumping ability, Traylor has a knack for getting balls out of the box in a hurry. He also brings big-match experience to the table, which will help the rest of the defense. Oswalt is a solid player that can force mistakes by the opposition. Burkett has a knack for finding the ball and beginning the smooth transition to offense for GWU.
With a redshirt season and a year of playing collegiate soccer, rising redshirt-sophomore Jordan Gaines could have a breakout season. At 6-1 and 200 lbs., the defender is an imposing player on the field. If he makes better decisions, he could see a jump in playing time.
Matt Mollozzi and Darrell Sawyer will all provide depth in the defensive third of the field. Each will make solid contributions to the squad in 2007, just like a season ago.
Newcomers Sam Dowell, Sheldon Gordon, Julian Morris and Ben Stoddard have tremendous soccer backgrounds. Each is hard working and brings the team-first concept to the field. All will see playing time during the year and could push for substantial minutes.
GOALKEEPER
Despite the loss of Tyler Kettering to graduation, the Bulldogs' Dane Geraci, a redshirt-junior, knows how to come through in the clutch. After playing UAB to a draw through regulation and two overtimes, Setzer inserted Geraci into the line-up for the penalty-kick round. Geraci guessed correctly on three occasions, helping GWU advance to the second round of the NCAA Championships.
Geraci will get first crack between the pipes, as he is the only keeper on the roster with collegiate experience.
Two freshmen will push Geraci for playing time and could spell him at times. Christopher Hames guided his team to the state playoffs for the first time in school history and led his club team to three state finals appearances. Trent Kozman recorded 22 shutouts during his high school career. Both seem to be strong in goal and should be valuable members of the team the next four seasons.
SCHEDULE
Setzer's team will face a variety of opponents in 2007. The schedule features matches with teams from the Big South, Southern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference in addition to the A-Sun slate. To add difficulty, only seven of the matches will be at Varsity Field.
After opening on the road at High Point and Clemson, the Bulldogs' first home match is against Liberty. Road contests at Radford, Winthrop and VMI follow the match with the Flames before GWU returns to Varsity Field to face Alabama A&M.
GWU will dive immediately into A-Sun matches, traveling to Jacksonville to take on the Dolphins and North Florida. The following week, the Bulldogs host Belmont and Lipscomb. GWU steps out of conference and head to Clinton, S.C., for a match-up at Presbyterian. Afterwards, GWU hosts new A-Sun opponent USC Upstate. The last two road matches in conference play for GWU are at Campbell and Mercer.
The Bulldogs wrap up the A-Sun schedule by playing host to Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast. Then, to finish preparing for the A-Sun tournament and the defense of its 2006 title, GWU heads to NC State and UNC-Asheville for the regular-season finale.
Although the team lost a few players from last year's NCAA
Tournament team, the Bulldogs are primed and ready to exhibit the
team concept and accomplish the same thing it set out to do in 2006
– win the conference championship and go out on top in its
last year in the A-Sun. With a solid core returning from a season
ago and a multitude of incoming talent, Setzer and his
student-athletes will once again climb to the top as a group
working together as a team.
