2002 Terrier Men's Soccer Outlook
August 7, 2002 | Men's Soccer
After a five-year layoff, B.U. returned to the top of the America East Conference in 2001, winning its eighth regular-season title in program history. This season, the Terriers will look to repeat their dominance in the conference and take a stand on the national stage.
Back in 1985, newly-appointed head soccer coach Neil Roberts had a daunting task at hand. Take a team that had finished the previous season with a 4-14-3 record and turn it into a championship contender. Roberts took the challenge and ran with it. During his first season at the helm, the Terriers went 14-4-1, won the New England Championship with a 2-1 victory over UConn, and reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament.
Through the mid-90’s, the Terriers dominated the Northeast region, winning the America East conference title and reaching the NCAA tournament for five straight seasons beginning in 1993. But, since 1998, the Terriers have been waiting to return to their dominance. According to Roberts, 2002 will be the year to get back to the limelight.
“We have all the pieces there to make a run,” said Roberts. “We have the confidence in our team and as good of a schedule as anyone. We can get to the NCAA’s.”
Last season, the Terriers made a big step back to their mid-90’s form, dominating the America East with a 9-1-1 league record while earning their seventh regular-season title. A number of injuries to key players and a 2-1 loss to Northeastern in the first round of the conference tournament put a small stain on the otherwise unblemished season.
Back for 2002, the Terriers return nine starters and 16 lettermen from the 2001 squad that compiled a 13-5-1 overall record. Among the returnees are three of the conference’s top midfielders in Andrew Dorman, Tony D’Angelo, and Federico Bianchi. Along with the talented trio, the Terriers bring to the table an experienced backfield, a number of scoring options and the deepest goalie rotation that B.U. has had in years.
The Offense
How will the Terriers replace one of the most prolific scorers in team history? By numbers.
Last season, Joachim Kaland scored a program single-season record 19 goals, leading the conference while ranking fourth in the nation with 1.06 goals per game.
Roberts plans to replace Kaland, who scored more than one-third of the team’s goals, with a number of options.
“In the past, when we’ve had very successful teams, we’ve had three or four guys scoring for us,” said Roberts. “This season, we’re not looking for a 20-goal scorer. We have three or four guys who should be able to score over 10 goals. We’ll score by committee.”
Dorman, a First Team All-Conference and All-New England selection, returns for his junior season as the Terriers’ top scorer. As a freshman in 1999, Dorman was second on the team in scoring with six goals and two assists, earning America East All-Rookie Team honors. Last season, Dorman played a major role in Kaland’s record-breaking season as the Terriers’ playmaker, assisting on 12 goals while scoring seven of his own. After spending the last two seasons as the Terriers’ second option on the offense, Dorman will look to step into the spotlight in 2002.
“We hope teams will focus on Andy because he’s just such a good passer and a great all-around player,” said Roberts. “But with the focus on Andy, of course the other guys are going to have to pick it up.”
Along with Dorman, junior Alan McNamara will likely move into a forward position after playing at the attacking midfield. Hampered by injuries as a freshman that limited him to 13 games, McNamara appeared in all 19 games last season, had three goals and three assists and ranked fourth on the team in scoring.
Ranked 24th in the nation by College Soccer News.com, the Terriers’ recruiting class brings a number of athletes who could make an immediate impact on the offense. Among the newcomers, Jamie Johnson, an attacking midfielder from Brisbane, Australia, and Sedrick Chin, a midfielder from St. Mary, Jamaica, will look to fill gaps in the Terriers’ attacking game. Both imports bring international playing experience, and they could find their ways into the lineup. Devon Henkis, a striker from Carrolton, Texas, could, according to Roberts, be the fastest player in the league. Henkis will also have an opportunity to make contributions in his first year.
The Midfield
The Terriers will get to NCAA’s by riding on the shoulders of their midfielders. B.U. boasts one of the most talented and experienced midfields in the league.
“Our midfield will be our strength this year,” said Roberts. “We’ve got Andy, Tony, and Fed back. They were three guys who were keys to the success of our midfield play last year.”
Bianchi was an America East All-Rookie Team selection after totaling 15 points off five goals and five assists in 2001. Playing a similar role to Dorman as the Terriers’ next option on the offense behind Kaland, Bianchi started all 19 games for the Terriers last season. Bianchi has the experience and talent to break out as one of the league’s top attacking midfielders in 2002.
The most experienced member of the midfield, D’Angelo has started all 55 games during his career. Against Towson last season, D’Angelo scored his only goal of the season in the 74th minute, breaking a scoreless tie to give the Terriers a 1-0 win to clinch the America East regular-season title. After contributing two goals and four assists in his first three seasons, D’Angelo will be looked upon to make more of an impact on the scoring column as a senior.
“Tony brings good defensive skills to our midfield,” said Roberts. “That’s something we’ll need from him, and we’ll need the other guys to improve in that area as well.”
Key reserves in the midfield from last season include senior David Fahey and junior Bjorn Jacobson. Fahey appeared in 11 contests, scored a goal and added an assist. Jacobson played in 16 games, had a goal and two assists and provided speed in the midfield.
The Defense
Last season, the Terriers had a young and inexperienced defense, but it was also very talented. In their sophomore season, Michael Feely and Karl Ruegemer led a defense that ranked second in the America East with a 1.10 goals against average and combined for five shutouts.
Feely, an America East All-Rookie Team selection in 2000, and Ruegemer, honored as the team’s Most Improved Player in 2001, each started 17 games last season while anchoring the defense.
Sophomore Erik Evjen will look to follow up his outstanding freshman campaign in which he started 16 games and earned America East All-Rookie Team honors.
A number of Terriers could fill the other starting position and make appearances off the bench.
After spending two seasons at Rutgers University, the Terriers welcome transfer Jon Martin to the mix.
“Jon has great experience after playing in the tough Big East conference and the NCAA tournament,” said Roberts. “I’m excited to see what he can bring to this team.”
According to Roberts, sophomore Brian Conway had a strong spring and could fill the role of the fourth defender.
Senior EA Carr, who appeared in 17 games last season, brings three seasons of experience and will look to guide the young defense.
Matt Cross, a freshman from Pembroke, Mass., could see significant playing time in his first year.
“Matt is a solid one-on-one defender with good athletic ability and will help us possess the ball,” said Roberts.
In Goal
Last season, it looked as if the Terriers were in desperate need of a goalkeeper. For the second consecutive season, starting goalkeeper Matt Smith’s season was cut short due to an injury. After a strong freshman campaign in which he posted the league’s second-best save percentage and earned B.U.’s Freshman of the Year honor, Smith missed the first 10 games of his sophomore season with a broken right hand and 12 games as a junior in 2001 with a kidney contusion suffered in the game against Boston College.
Enter freshman Zak Thompson. In his first collegiate start, Thompson recorded a 2-0 shutout of cross-town rival Northeastern, and never looked back. By the time the season was completed, Thompson had compiled a 9-2-1 record with a league-best 1.08 goals against average. For his efforts, Thompson was selected to the All-Conference Second Team and the All-Rookie Team and was honored by his team as Freshman of the Year.
“Smitty was playing well before he got hurt and it has been unfortunate that he’s been sidelined a majority of the past two seasons,” said Roberts. “But what Zak did last year was fantastic. To move into the starting role, midseason, and do the job he did was really impressive.”
In addition to Smith and Thompson, Roberts will have a third option in freshman Chad Conroe. A First Team All-Area and District MVP from Dallas, Texas, Conroe recorded 15 shutouts and posted a 0.40 goals against average while leading J.J. Pearce High School to the Region 1-4A championship as a senior. The Schedule
Roberts built his 2002 schedule with one goal in mind, reach the NCAA tournament. He designed the demanding non-conference slate in order to create two avenues to the post-season, either by winning the America East title or earn an at-large bid by defeating top-ranked programs. Both are formidable tasks, but tasks the Terriers are ready to take head on.
“We’re playing one of the most difficult and ambitious schedules in years,” said Roberts. “We feel we’re ready to handle it.”
The Terriers open the 2002 schedule with a West Coast swing, playing UCLA and Cal-State Fullerton in the Fila Classic in Fullerton, CA. UCLA finished last season ranked 15th in the nation. Nickerson Field, with its FIFA approved FieldTurf surface, plays host to four consecutive non-conference games in September as the Terriers face UMass, Fairfield, Dartmouth, and UConn. Regional-rival UMass was ranked 24th in the nation in the final poll of 2001. UConn, the 2000 National Champion, finished last season with a 15-5-2 record and was ranked 18th in the country.
“For the first time in 20 years, we’ve got some really great games at home because of the new field,” said Roberts. “Now, we’ve got to take advantage of that.”
Following the four-game homestand, B.U. makes its way up Commonwealth Avenue to take on cross-town rival Boston College in Chestnut Hill and travels to Rhode Island to take on the Rams. The Terriers close out their non-conference campaign hosting San Diego. Last season, the Toreros reached the second round of the NCAA tournament and were ranked 22nd in the final poll.
In 2001, the Terriers cruised through the conference schedule with their only speed bump, the 2-1 loss to Northeastern, coming in the America East tournament. Roberts believes much of the same will be expected from B.U. in 2002.
“The league is pretty wide open but we should be the favorite,” said Roberts. “With the America East, you really never know.” Roberts considers Stony Brook, Hartford, and Northeastern as the primary threats in denying the Terriers back-to-back titles.
