Men's Soccer Hopes To Dance In 2007
MEN'S SOCCER HOPING TO ‘DANCE' IN 2007
CHICOPEE, MA, Sept. 6, 2007 - The second
half of the 2006 season was a true Cinderella story for the Elms
College men's soccer team.
In the end, however, the clock struck midnight 90 minutes too early for the Blazers.
Elms College went 8-10-1 and advanced all the way to the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Tournament championship game in 2006.
The Blazers, seeded seventh in the NAC Tournament, eventually saw their hopes of a first-ever NCAA Division III Championship berth dashed with a heartbreaking 2-1 loss at top-seeded Lasell.
Elms College, which started seven underclassmen, including six freshmen a year ago, returns 13 players this season.
It is that experience that has 10th-year head coach John Amaral raising the level of expectation with his players in 2007.
"Last year we were a very young team in almost every position," Coach Amaral said. "Our players first had to learn the system and adapt to the college game before we could work on specialized plays. Now that they have that year of experience, our expectations will be higher this season."
The Blazers started last season 2-5, and following a 6-0 shutout loss at Eastern Connecticut State, many counted the team down and out.
Coach Amaral and assistant coach Bob Oliveira, however, knew otherwise.
"Right after that game, we pointed out both the good and bad things that happened and then just gave them their space," Coach Amaral recalled. "We kept telling them to be patient and that we would be fine as the season progressed."
Coaches Amaral and Oliveira proved prophetic, as the Blazers roared back with four wins and a tie in their next six games, including impressive conference shutout road victories at both Thomas (2-0) and Maine-Farmington (1-0).
Elms College skidded into the conference tournament with three straight losses, but responded with upset wins at No. 2 Husson (2-1 in double overtime) and No. 3 Maine-Farmington (3-1) to advance to the program's first NAC Tournament title game since 2001.
With the addition of eight talented newcomers this season, the Blazers appear deep in every position - something not lost on Coach Amaral.
"We have more overall depth and versatility than in any of my previous nine years here," he noted.
FORWARDS
The Blazers have options up front with five returnees, including
sophomore Sean Moylan (Chicopee, MA), who netted a
team-leading seven goals last season.
Junior co-captain Jack Paulo II (Chicopee, MA), who missed nine games in 2006 after suffering an injury in the team's season-opener at Westfield State, returns this season and should provide a solid scoring threat to the Blazers' offensive arsenal.
"Jack is the workhorse of this team and always gives 100-percent," Coach Amaral said. "His efforts in the NAC Tournament went mostly unnoticed, but I honestly believe he was the unsung hero for us in those three games."
Junior Patrick Kayego (Springfield, MA) and sophomore Brian Murca (Chicopee, MA) return a combined for three goals and nine points. Sophomore Damien Robinson (Chicopee, MA) also returns for the Blazers after appearing in eight games a year ago.
Sophomore T.J. Nevue (Ware, MA) and freshman Chris Silva (Chicopee, MA), both All-Western Massachusetts selections during their high school careers, are both legitimate scoring threats and will likely make an immediate impact for the Blazers up front.
Nevue, who scored 108 goals in just three varsity seasons at Ware High School, netted 11 goals as a freshman at Husson in 2004.
Silva, meanwhile, helped lead Chicopee High to sectional semifinal appearances in three of his four varsity seasons.
"T.J. is a striker that knows how to score, and he is a lefty so that makes him even more dangerous," Coach Amaral explained. "What makes Chris unique is that he is balanced with both feet and can play anywhere on the field. You don't find that quality in a player very often."
MIDFIELDERS
Sophomore co-captain Ben Masse (Chicopee, MA) may
speak softly, but his on-field presence is unmistakable.
Masse struck for six goals in 18 games a year ago, and his poise, intelligence and focus make him a force the Blazers will need once again this season.
"Ben led by example with his consistency," Coach Amaral said. "He stays in motion, has great field awareness, a soft touch with the ball and is lethal inside 25 yards."
Junior newcomer Jesse Castellano (Holyoke, MA), who played four years at Holyoke High School and a year at Holyoke Community College, is a versatile option as both a midfielder and defender.
"Jesse knows how to win and can play several positions for us," Coach Amaral said.
Junior Jose Bermudez (Lenox, MA) appeared in 17 games in the midfield a year ago, while freshmen Sam Senecal (Chicopee, MA) and Courtney Johnson (Belchertown, MA) will also vie for time in the middle this season.
DEFENDERS
Make no mistake; the Blazers will be tough to beat in the back.
Sophomore defenders Nick Bamford (Ludlow, MA), Jon D'Amours (Chicopee, MA) and Justin Oliveira (Ludlow, MA) appeared in a combined 52 games a year ago.
All three played pivotal roles in a defense that yielded just 16 goals over the final 12 games last season.
Freshmen Nick Silva (Ludlow, MA), Justin Pearson (Torrington, CT) and Josh Malone (Chicopee, MA) add further depth to an already game-hardened backline.
GOALKEEPERS
Juniors Phil Joyce (Ashland, MA) and Nick Pellegrini (Ludlow, MA) return for their third seasons as arguably the NAC's best one-two goalkeeping tandem.
Joyce registered a 1.30 goals against average, yielded just 15
goals and stopped 107 shots in 12 games between the pipes in 2006,
while Pellegrini turned aside 57 shots in nine appearances.
Both return experience and support for one another, but each offers different on-field strengths according to Coach Amaral.
"Phil kept us in a lot of games and he made some key saves early in our tournament games at Husson and Maine-Farmington," Coach Amaral said. "He is athletic and more aggressive to the ball, while Nick does a great job of cutting down angles and controlling the tempo."
Senior Chris Lucas (Westfield, MA) returns for his fourth season to provide the Blazers with a third goalkeeper.
SCHEDULE
The Blazers have once again put together a solid schedule that features five non-conference games against state schools - four against Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference teams (including Framingham State, Fitchburg State, Salem State and defending MASCAC Tournament champion Westfield State).
The true test will be the team's ability to play on the road, as the Blazers play five of their eight conference games away from Leary Field, including a trip to Maine to face Husson and Maine Maritime in the final weekend of the regular season.
WRAP-UP
With the departure of perennial conference powers Lasell and Mount Ida to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), the NAC appears wide-open this season.
The return of 13 players, including several key starters should have the Blazers among the favorites to earn the conference's NCAA Division III Championship automatic qualifier come October.
"Our expectations are high, but I think this group can bring this program to the next level," Coach Amaral said.