Defense likely key to men's soccer success

JERRY REILLY, Sports Information Director

8/24/2011 5:17:00 PM

FREDONIA, N.Y. – Based on the numbers, the Fredonia State men's soccer team could be in for a lot of low-scoring games in 2011.

The Blue Devils scored 28 goals last season, only six by returning players. It's no surprise that when post-season awards were handed out last year, they went to players who made their mark on defense.

Senior midfielder David Thoin was All-SUNYAC Third Team because of his solid play during the regular season. He made 18 starts in 2010 and registered one assist. He has one goal and one assist in 50 games over three seasons.

Meanwhile, junior midfielder Ryan Smith and senior goalkeeper Bobby McGinnis made the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team following the Blue Devils' 1-0 semifinal loss to Brockport. It was the second conference award for Smith; he was 2009 SUNYAC Rookie of the Year. He has one goal and two assists in his first two seasons.

In addition to his post-season exploits, McGinnis recorded five shutouts in 2010, and has six overall. He'll enter 2011 with career totals of 12 wins against 10 losses (no ties), a 1.21 goals-against average, and a save percentage of .700.

“There is no question that our strength lies in our defense and midfield,” said head coach P.J. Gondek, now in his 12th season. He has a career coaching record of 125-72 with 20 ties.

“We have seniors at the most crucial positions,” he said. “We don't have star power up front but we do have players who came to us with that pedigree and are capable finishers”.

Sophomore forward/midfielder Luke Tylutki is the leading scorer among 2010 returnees. He had two goals and three assists as a freshman. In addition, sophomore forward Jake Persons had two goals in 2010, while senior forward Cory Paine and junior midfielder Brian Courtney had one goal each.

Only two other returning players have experienced the thrill of scoring a collegiate goal. Senior forwards Matt Grabowski and Justin Gmeinweiser combined for eight goals their freshman year – five by Grabowski, three by Gmeinweiser. Grabowski added his sixth collegiate goal as a sophomore.

The other returning players are senior defender Shawn Creviston; senior defenders Luke Tylutki and Rejean Archambeault; junior defender Matt Schroen; junior midfielders Tyler Williams and Gabe Esposito; and sophomores Josh Best, Chase Lipshie, Brandon Napieralski, and Joe Pagano. Best and Lipshie are listed as midfielders, Pagano and Napieralski as defenders.

The list of newcomers is comprised of three juniors, two sophomores, and six freshmen. The juniors are midfielders Shawn Gist and Taylor Page, and defender Jeremy Voigt. Midfielder Barry Hunt and defender Dino Salkic are the sophomores. The freshmen are goalkeepers A.J. Grecco and Mike Schreiner; forward Sam Guider; and midfielders Aaron Kleinschmidt, Cody Miller, and Frank Moynihan.

“To be honest some of our returning players sat behind last year's seniors so it is time for them to fill those roles,” Gondek said. “The transfers will add quality depth. They should be able to step right in. Our freshmen class is solid but it will take a special young player to displace the more experienced.”

The bulk of the 2010 offense came from last year's senior class. Ryan O'Donnell, Eli Lubberts, and John Grabowski had seven, five, and four goals, respectively. Stephen Ahern and Peter Dagel each had two goals, and Jack Flechaus had one. That's 21 goals combined, plus 11 assists, for 53 of the team's 80 total points.

Those six players and a seventh senior, Brett Wysocki, were members of the 2007 SUNYAC championship team, and several of them attained all-conference awards during their collegiate careers. O'Donnell and Dagel each made the All-SUNYAC Team four times, Lubberts three times, and Grabowski and Ahern once each. In addition, O'Donnell is fifth (29 goals, 18 assists/76 points) and Dagel eighth (27-7/61) on Fredonia State's current all-time scoring list.

Ahern and Grabowski have joined Gondek's coaching staff. It also includes Dan Smith.

“Looking back,” Gondek said, “that was a class that was one of our best in terms of pure soccer talent. Tied for first after the regular season is where we always want to be, however, the end result fell short without question. Our group this year isn't as flashy but they understand who we are and what it will take to win consistently and that has been a recipe that has worked very well in the past.”

The Blue Devils were 10-9-0 last season, including 7-2-0 in the SUNYAC. They open this season Sept. 1 vs. St. John Fisher at the Flower City Classic hosted by the University of Rochester.