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Men's Soccer Has Solid Mix Of Experience, Youth Heading Into Perry's 17th Campaign
With a solid mix of experience, youth and leadership back in the fold for the 2009 season, optimism is running high for the upcoming Massachusetts Maritime men's soccer campaign. Veteran Head Coach Greg Perry, the dean of MASCAC mentors as he heads into his 17th season in Buzzards Bay, welcomes back 14 letterwinners from last year's squad that posted five victories and a pair of ties while playing a total of 10 one-goal decisions in 18 contests, and combined with 10 newcomers to the program, that optimism is certainly well-founded.
Leadership is a staple of any program at the Academy, and Perry will turn to three of his veterans to provide leadership this fall, as seniors Chris Corr (Haverhill, Mass./Whittier Tech) and Matt McDonnell (Marshfield, Mass./Sacred Heart), along with junior Jon White (Lynnfield, Mass./Lynnfield), will serve as Massachusetts Maritime's tri-captains in 2009. Perry describes this trio as "individuals who collectively have demonstrated the work ethic and example that each of our players should emulate both on and off the field."
Here's a look at how things are shaping up for the 2009 edition of Buccaneer Men's Soccer:
FORWARD. Sophomore Kevin McCord (Norwell, Mass./Norwell) is the top returning scorer for Perry this fall, as he paced Massachusetts Maritime with five goals and a pair of assists for 12 points while earning MASCAC Player of the Week accolades last October. Junior Brian Reske (Duxbury, Mass./Sacred Heart) lends additional experience for the Bucs after netting a goal in 16 appearances as a sophomore, while the Marshfield, Mass. (Marshfield High School) duo of junior Paul Mullis and sophomore Ryan Fischer, who transferred in from Massasoit and Merrimack, respectively, will also look to contribute up front in 2009.
MIDFIELD. The middle of the Buccaneer lineup looks solid with five veterans returning to the mix, led by sophomore Mike McCarthy (Norwell, Mass./Norwell), who earned all-MASCAC accolades as a freshman in notching a pair of assists in 17 matches. Fellow sophomore Josh Hoy (Camp Hill, Pa./Camp Hill) was the second leading scorer for Massachusetts Maritime as a rookie in collecting four goals and two assists for 10 points, while sophomore Sean Szczesny (Whitman, Mass./Whitman-Hanson) also chipped in with solid numbers in tallying a goal and three assists for five points as a rookie. Junior Andrew Mullen (Bridgewater, Mass./Cardinal Spellman) lends an additional veteran presence after posting an assist in 16 contests in 2008, while sophomore James Gendrolis (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) gained additional experience after appearing in 15 matches (with four starts) during his inaugural season. The trio of freshmen Patrick Gleason (Reading, Mass./Northeast Regional Voke), Derek Young (Falmouth, Mass./Falmouth) and Tim McDonough (Framingham, Mass./Framingham) will also be vying for spots in Perry's lineup during their rookie campaigns.
BACK. McDonnell leads a solid group of returning defenders for the Buccaneers this fall, as he earned all-MASCAC honors last season in appearing in all but one match, while White (18 starts, one goal) and Corr (16 starts in 18 appearances) will also provide valuable depth and experience. Junior Kyle Sheehan (Bridgewater, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham) was a solid two-way player for Perry last fall in chipping in with a goal and two assists for four points, while fellow junior Rory O'Donnell (Somerset, Mass./Somerset) added an assist in 17 outings. Sophomore Dennis Doherty (West Falmouth, Mass./Bishop Stang) also made 17 appearances during his rookie season for Massachusetts Maritime, which will be looking for first-year contributions from freshmen Adam Rabesa (Falmouth, Mass./Falmouth), Alex Katapodis (Wrentham, Mass./King Philip) and Adam Vieira (New Bedford, Mass./New Bedford).
GOALKEEPER. Sophomore Mark Mullaney (Bridgewater, Mass./Catholic Memorial) is the lone returnee among Perry's goalkeeping corps, as he logged 13-plus minutes as a freshman and will be challenged for the starting role by fellow sophomore Taylor Wyman (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Duncan Fletcher) and freshman Patrick Slaney (Northbridge, Mass./Bellingham).
Massachusetts Maritime will play four of its first five matches in the friendly confines of Clean Harbors Stadium, as Perry's crew kicks off the 2009 season on Tuesday, September 1st by entertaining Mount Ida along the Canal beginning at 6:00 p.m. EDT. The Buccaneers will open MASCAC action on Saturday, September 19th with a road clash at Salem State.
