2010 guide - Ohio Wesleyan University

2010 Bishop Outlook2The Ohio Wesleyan University men’ssoccer team had an impressive 2009 season,not only running the table in NorthCoast Athletic Conference competition fora second straight season on the way to winningthe NCAC championship for the fifthtime in 6 years, but allowing only 2 goalsin doing so to set an NCAA all-divisionsrecord.Head coach Jay Martin welcomes 10returning starters and 24 returning lettermenwho will try to defend the NCACchampionship and make another run intothe NCAA Division III playoffs.“We’ve got a very good freshmanclass, and a real good core of upperclassmenwho will lead the way and get thefreshmen ready,” Martin said. “Our goalsdon’t change from year to year — we wantto win the conference championship, winthe (NCAC) tournament, and get into theNCAA tournament and see how far we cango.”Tyler Wall was a first-team All-America selection in 2009.Juniors Travis Wall and Matt Bonfiniopen the season on the forward line.Wall led the Bishops with 15 goals on theway to first-team all-region and All-NCAClaurels last season, while Bonfini tallied ateam-high 10 goals and was an honorablemention all-conference pick in 2008.Senior Tyler Bryant, a 2-year lettermanwho missed the 2009 season, andjunior Raphi Fratkin also return, alongwith junior Derek Sebert and sophomoreCollin Greer. Freshman Jon Stegner, anall-district pick in high school, also looks tocontribute.The midfield, traditionally a Bishopstrength, should again be the team’sbackbone in 2010. “We have a lot of goodmidfield players,” Martin said, “but we needto find a combination that will work welltogether.”Senior Tyler Wall, a first-team All-America, all-region, and NCAC Player of theYear selection after racking up 9 goals and11 assists last season, moves to one of theoutside midfielder positions.Sophomore Casey Blankenship andfreshman Matt Shadoan, an all-state selectionin high school, will vie for the otheroutside position.Junior Dylan Stone, who scored 4goals last year, including 2 game-winners,takes over the attacking midfield spot, withfreshman Ian O’Keefe, an all-district choicein high school, also in the mix.Senior Ryan Harmanis, a 3-time All-NCAC selection, is back at the defensivemidfield position. Junior Tevon Levien alsowill see time in the defensive midfield.“There is more attacking and creativetalent than we’ve had in the past,” Martinsaid.In the backfield, seniors Eric Laippleand Brian Greene return at the outsidespots. Each contributed on both ends ofthe field, with Laipple collecting 3 goalsand 7 assists on the way to first-team All-America, all-region, and all-conferencehonors, and Greene adding 2 goals and 5assists while picking up his second All-NCAC citation.Junior Andrew Miller and freshmanMartin Tobias will open the season as thestarting center backs, with sophomoreAllyn Wilson and freshmen Matt Dodrill,Chris Litzler, and Ben Witkoff also slated tosee action. Litzler was an all-state selectionin high school, while Dodrill receivedall-district honors and Witkoff was a2-time all-conference pick.“We have more depth in the back thanwe’ve had the last few years,” Martin said.Sophomore Paul Hendricks returns ingoal after leading the NCAC in saves percentage(.941) and sharing the league leadwith 9 shutouts in 2009.Junior Steve Gobel is an experiencedbackup, junior Jared Shaner also returns,and freshman Zack Khalifa will battle forplaying time.Ohio Wesleyan faces another ruggedschedule. The Bishops open the seasonat Bob Baptista Invitational, hosted byWheaton (Ill.) College, where Ohio Wesleyanwill take on a pair of 2009 NCAADivision III tournament teams in Elmhurstand Wheaton. Ohio Wesleyan then opensits home slate with the adidas®-Fred MyersInvitational, which includes games againstAdrian (Mich.) and Principia (Ill.). A stringof regional tests follows, with Otterbein,traditionally-tough DePauw, 2009 NCAAplayoff teams Ohio Northern and CaseReserve providing the opposition. In theNCAC, 2009 runner-up Denison, 2009 tournamentteams Hiram and Kenyon, and upand-comingOberlin will be at the forefrontof another thrilling title chase.2010 OWU Men’s Soccer