August 18, 2011
Although Bethany will have some holes to fill after losing seven seniors, the team does bring back its starting goalkeeper and top five scorers, so the foundation is in place for another strong year.
"I feel really good about the season," said Regan. "We lost a few key players like Jason Straw and Mike Hasson, leaving us tough voids to fill, especially in the backfield. Luckily we have solid incoming freshmen to carry on the success from last year."
Returning junior starter Zach Zozula (Claysville, Pa./McGuffey), who started 22 matches last year, will be one of the consistent players in the back four. "Other than Zozula, I am looking for big things from (freshmen) Daryl Fenton (Westcliff, England/Jo Richardson) and Anes Bekric (Leesburg, Va./Loudoun County)," said Regan.
Besides Bekric and Fenton, other newcomers that are looking for quality time in the backfield are Jay Flowers (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington), Alfred Amanor (Accra, Ghana), Casey Clements (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell), Tyler Davis (Shadyside, Ohio/Linsly), and Thomas Everton (Burlington, Va./Bellows Acad.).
The backrow will be playing in front of an experienced keeper in senior Patrick Coleman (South Park, Pa.). He has played in 39 career matches, including 15 a year ago, and posted five clean sheets on his way to a 9-5-1 record in goal. One weakness facing BC this season is the lack of another keeper on with the program.
"Coming off an absolutely stellar year, Pat Coleman needs to stay healthy and be a leader since he is the only keeper we have on the roster," said Regan.
Two veterans return to spark the Bison midfield. Sophomore Tomas Gonzalez (Sunrise, Fla./Western) played in 22 games last year and collected three goals and two assists, while senior Alexander Stubbs (Follansbee, W.Va./Brooke) notched nine points in 22 matches, including two scores in the ECAC Quarterfinal win at Penn State Behrend.
"In the midfield, we have former All-Conference athlete Tomas ," said Regan. "With his vision of the field, we will need him to step up as a leader even as a sophomore. And Stubbs had a very impressive season last year with scoring twice in the win in the ECAC Quarterfinals and notching four goals in the season. If Stubbs stays consistent in the game, he has the potential to be elite."
Key freshmen looking for time in the midfield are CJ Okoko-Lohamba (Odenton, Md./Arundel) and Tyler Pannebaker (Pittsburgh, Pa./Moon). "Each of the men have a good distribute on the ball and I am looking for both of them to step up big as freshmen," said Regan.
Others in the mix for playing time are Hayder Al-Ghazi (Pittsburgh, Pa./Schenley), Brandon Martell (Sharon, Pa.), Nicholas Turner (Huntington, W.Va./Huntington St. Joseph), Dustin Simkins (Sharon, Pa.) and Dylan Blashak (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel).
The forward position will be the most experienced for the Green and White this fall. Sophomore Arkangelo James (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) erupted on the scene last year with 18 goals, tied for third-most in all of Division III, and 43 points, tops in the PAC. He was rewarded with First Team All-PAC and Second Team All-Region accolades for his season.
He will not have to carry the scoring burden alone, as senior Cameron Ward (Toronto, Canada/Mowat), a two-time All-PAC choice with eight of his 18 career goals coming last year, is back, as is sophomore Lamine Balde (Guinea/William L. Sayre), who recorded five goals in 15 matches last year.
"In the striker position is where we have our most experienced players," said Regan. "Arkangelo was an All-Region player as well as being tied for third in goal scoring in the country. I am hoping for another big year from Ark but he just needs to adjust. Other teams overlooked Arkangelo but now he cannot go unnoticed.
"Returner Cameron Ward is a leader on the field and a consistent scorer. We aim to have a double digit season in goals for Cam," said Regan. "Lamine had a slow start coming off injury but quickly became a threat as he scored big goals throughout the season. Lamine had an extremely fit preseason, so we're looking for a degree of athleticism out of him."
Freshman Cody McElhaney (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) is a newcomer also battling for playing time up front this season.
"The key to success this year is to be able to stay healthy. We are currently not a team of depth but we are relying on the freshmen to be able to adapt quickly to the change," said Regan. "Going from second to last place in the conference to second place is a tremendous achievement. We not only are going to try to get back to conference tournament, but also try to get the opportunity to show ourselves in an NCAA tournament match."
Bethany Men's Soccer Season Preview
Since coming off the most successful season since 2007, head coach Sean Regan and the Bethany College Men's Soccer team aspires to go farther than the ECAC Quarterfinals this upcoming season.
After winning just two matches in 2009, the Bison improved to 10 victories in the regular season last fall. Bethany continued the comeback story by advancing to the PAC Championship match and then earning a bid to the ECAC Tournament, where it knocked off top-seeded Penn State Behrend and reached the semifinal round.
Although Bethany will have some holes to fill after losing seven seniors, the team does bring back its starting goalkeeper and top five scorers, so the foundation is in place for another strong year.
"I feel really good about the season," said Regan. "We lost a few key players like Jason Straw and Mike Hasson, leaving us tough voids to fill, especially in the backfield. Luckily we have solid incoming freshmen to carry on the success from last year."
Returning junior starter Zach Zozula (Claysville, Pa./McGuffey), who started 22 matches last year, will be one of the consistent players in the back four. "Other than Zozula, I am looking for big things from (freshmen) Daryl Fenton (Westcliff, England/Jo Richardson) and Anes Bekric (Leesburg, Va./Loudoun County)," said Regan.
Besides Bekric and Fenton, other newcomers that are looking for quality time in the backfield are Jay Flowers (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington), Alfred Amanor (Accra, Ghana), Casey Clements (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell), Tyler Davis (Shadyside, Ohio/Linsly), and Thomas Everton (Burlington, Va./Bellows Acad.).
The backrow will be playing in front of an experienced keeper in senior Patrick Coleman (South Park, Pa.). He has played in 39 career matches, including 15 a year ago, and posted five clean sheets on his way to a 9-5-1 record in goal. One weakness facing BC this season is the lack of another keeper on with the program.
"Coming off an absolutely stellar year, Pat Coleman needs to stay healthy and be a leader since he is the only keeper we have on the roster," said Regan.
Two veterans return to spark the Bison midfield. Sophomore Tomas Gonzalez (Sunrise, Fla./Western) played in 22 games last year and collected three goals and two assists, while senior Alexander Stubbs (Follansbee, W.Va./Brooke) notched nine points in 22 matches, including two scores in the ECAC Quarterfinal win at Penn State Behrend.
"In the midfield, we have former All-Conference athlete Tomas ," said Regan. "With his vision of the field, we will need him to step up as a leader even as a sophomore. And Stubbs had a very impressive season last year with scoring twice in the win in the ECAC Quarterfinals and notching four goals in the season. If Stubbs stays consistent in the game, he has the potential to be elite."
Key freshmen looking for time in the midfield are CJ Okoko-Lohamba (Odenton, Md./Arundel) and Tyler Pannebaker (Pittsburgh, Pa./Moon). "Each of the men have a good distribute on the ball and I am looking for both of them to step up big as freshmen," said Regan.
Others in the mix for playing time are Hayder Al-Ghazi (Pittsburgh, Pa./Schenley), Brandon Martell (Sharon, Pa.), Nicholas Turner (Huntington, W.Va./Huntington St. Joseph), Dustin Simkins (Sharon, Pa.) and Dylan Blashak (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel).
The forward position will be the most experienced for the Green and White this fall. Sophomore Arkangelo James (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) erupted on the scene last year with 18 goals, tied for third-most in all of Division III, and 43 points, tops in the PAC. He was rewarded with First Team All-PAC and Second Team All-Region accolades for his season.
He will not have to carry the scoring burden alone, as senior Cameron Ward (Toronto, Canada/Mowat), a two-time All-PAC choice with eight of his 18 career goals coming last year, is back, as is sophomore Lamine Balde (Guinea/William L. Sayre), who recorded five goals in 15 matches last year.
"In the striker position is where we have our most experienced players," said Regan. "Arkangelo was an All-Region player as well as being tied for third in goal scoring in the country. I am hoping for another big year from Ark but he just needs to adjust. Other teams overlooked Arkangelo but now he cannot go unnoticed.
"Returner Cameron Ward is a leader on the field and a consistent scorer. We aim to have a double digit season in goals for Cam," said Regan. "Lamine had a slow start coming off injury but quickly became a threat as he scored big goals throughout the season. Lamine had an extremely fit preseason, so we're looking for a degree of athleticism out of him."
Freshman Cody McElhaney (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) is a newcomer also battling for playing time up front this season.
"The key to success this year is to be able to stay healthy. We are currently not a team of depth but we are relying on the freshmen to be able to adapt quickly to the change," said Regan. "Going from second to last place in the conference to second place is a tremendous achievement. We not only are going to try to get back to conference tournament, but also try to get the opportunity to show ourselves in an NCAA tournament match."
