2008 UD Men's Soccer Preview

DAYTON (OH) -- Last year finished in heartbreak. The Dayton Flyers played host to the A10 Men’s Soccer Championship at Baujan Field and occupied the #6 seed heading into a first round match against #3 UMass. It didn’t seem like a big deal at the time. After all, St. Louis and Rhode Island were tops in the league and on a collision course for the A10 Final. Not only did the Bills and Rams get bumped, UMass went on to capture the league title and make an improbable run to the College Cup. But it almost never happened.
The Flyers battled UMass to a 1-1 draw after 110 minutes and fell to defeat in a penalty kick shootout. The Minutemen were outplayed, outhustled, and largely outmatched. While UMass went on a tear in the NCAAs, Dayton finished the season at 10-4-5 (4-3-2) and still searching for the program’s first-ever NCAA berth. But UMass’ success speaks volumes for parity in men’s soccer. The margins are paper thin and anybody can get hot at the right time. The results clearly show that Dayton wasn’t far removed from putting together the same kind of storybook run. The program is getting better under fourth-year Head Coach Dennis Currier. Talent and depth are good, but the separation line is in the details. If the Flyers can add some consistency and polish to the 2008 season, the NCAAs are much closer than some realize.

IN THE ATTACK

The good news is six of the top eight scorers from 2008 return. While there are no bona-fide scoring machines, junior Alex Torda figures to be leading the way in the Flyer offense. Torda led the team with 6 goals and 5 assists in 2007 and was one of five players in the A10 mentioned in the preseason Hermann Trophy Watch List. He was one of four players to start all 19 games a year ago and has the tools to better his scoring numbers this year – perhaps significantly. Torda’s craftiness and finishing skills inside the box are strong, and running at defenders remains his weapon of choice. With the departure of Tyler Imbrogno, Torda stands a good chance of playing forward, but has extensive experience working in the midfield and attacking with pace.

Fans should look for someone else step up and accept a chunk of the scoring burden. The most likely candidates are junior Jeff Popella -- a local product out of Dayton Carroll HS – or internationals Simeon Zapryanov or Florian DeCamps. All three tower over six feet with the latter two measuring 6-3 and 6-4 respectively. Popella finished with 4 goals and 2 assists last year, good enough for fourth best. Zapryanov and DeCamps finished fifth and sixth with a combined 5 goals and 5 assists. While Popella spends most of his time at forward, Zapryanov can help out in the midfield and DeCamps has shown strong skills as a defender in the back line. DeCamps is also dangerous on set pieces and is usually the first option to play over the top of opposing defenses. Also in the mix is junior Ryan Hartman. Known for his toughness and coachability, he started the final two matches of 2007 and brings intensity and a great work ethic to the pitch.

BETWEEN THE 18s

Senior Joe Olwig finished number two on the scoring charts last season (5 goals, 1 assist) and is a steady fixture in the midfield. His leadership, experience, and ability to get others involved is something the staff will lean on early and often.

Juniors Ben Murray and Zach Weiss should challenge for starting positions in the midfield. Murray, a Columbus native, made 12 starts in 2007 and likes to cheat forward into an attacking role along the right side when the opportunity exists. He also has a knack for placing solid crosses in the box from the end line. Weiss made nine starts in 14 overall appearances and brings combination skills that afford the coaches the luxury of also playing him in the back line.

Josh Albers made six starts and appeared in all 19 matches as a true freshman, tallying 2 goals and an assist. Expect considerable improvement in his second year and an increasing role in the offense.

Junior Isaac Kissi, another international, has the size (6-2), athleticism, and speed to win balls and give the Flyers an attacking posture with quick counter attacks. The staff will ask for a more consistent effort this year and better shot selection. He finished fifth on the team with 24 shots in 2007 but registered just one goal.

Grad student Daniel March made headway at the end of last season and started the final four games, scoring once. Look for him to continue making strides. The Wales native has international experience and may be called upon to carry a leadership role.

IN THE REAR WITH THE GEAR

The UD defensive line has a chance to be good – really good. In fact, there’s enough raw talent to develop into one of the best defenses since Denny Clanton and Dasan Robinson protected the Flyer goal – a pair of talents eventually drafted into MLS.

Junior Randy Dennis is a lock at sweeper. The Texas native has started every game of his Flyer career and brings speed, endurance, good strength, and impeccable instincts. He’s the perfect fit to bark orders and direct traffic if the coaches can coax him into being a more vocal leader. Dennis is an all-conference talent that doesn’t always get all-conference recognition.

Fellow Texan Sonny Renner, a sophomore, along with Ryan Handbury and Tommy Watkins give Dayton a formidable back line that has two more years to get it perfect. Renner started all 19 games in 2007 while England-native Handbury did likewise. Sophomore Tommy Watkins started the first nine games of his frosh season until a season-ending injury got in the way. Redshirt sophomore Kyle Basil has yet to see action in a UD uniform but was well regarded out of Chillicothe HS.

The aforementioned talents have all the tools, but need to demonstrate more consistency to live up to their potential. The back line has performed exceedingly well in turning away out-numbered attacks, but at other times has lost focus and been hurt by breakaways or poor clearances. With no seniors in the back line and so many starts already between them, it’s obvious Currier likes what he has. It’s time for them to establish themselves as one of the premier defensive units in the A10 and beyond.

Dayton will have a new goalkeeper between the pipes this year. Perhaps first in line is redshirt junior Alex Davis. Davis has made just one appearance in three seasons but should be well acquainted with the system, expectations, and most importantly his teammates. Redshirt Freshman Matt Barnes is still looking for his first minutes in a Flyer uniform but is the likeliest challenger. Both bring good size to the net and solid prep credentials.

NOOBS

The incoming class is huge, something fans are accustomed to under Currier’s watch. Several losses to attrition from players looking for more (or any) playing time elsewhere opened up the roster and the piggy bank. The staff capitalized.

Defenders Alex Frenz (Whitefish Bay,WI), Michael Deyhle (Cincinnati, OH), and Jack Pearson (Coventry, UK) should have ample time to learn the ropes from a veteran back line. Midfielders John Sobey (Woodstock, IL), Johnny Daniels (Potomac, MD/Penn State), Jonny Phipps (Plano, TX), Luke Baker (Coventry, UK), Lucas Young (Glen Ellyn, IL) and Mario Falsetti (Elm Grove, WI) will fight for minutes as ball control specialists and conduits. All of them bring solid ODP, club, or international experience and it’s likely one or two will fight for a starting job early in the season.

UD brought in two new goalkeepers. Redshirt sophomore Tyler Picard (Denver, CO) transfers in from Creighton while Patrick Hardt (Greendale, WI) competed at the highest club level with much success.

If nothing else, the UD coaching staff is turning over every rock. The pool of talent stretches as many time zones as the Concorde.

FLYER FOES

Fans looking for a bunch of cupcakes to pad the win column will be disappointed. The 2008 schedule features several teams that place well in their conference and pop up in the Top-25 national rankings from year to year.

The Flyers open the season at home against highly-respected University of Denver, a longtime fixture in men’s soccer. The weekend finishes up against cross-town rival WrightState. The Flyers hit the road for matches against regional power Milwaukee and former national champion Wisconsin and continue the road trip with a tournament at UNC-Wilmington against the host school and Top-25 contender Coastal Carolina.

UD returns home for five straight matches. The first three polish off the non-con schedule against Marshall, Robert Morris, and historic powerhouse SIU-Edwardsvillle. Conference play begins thereafter as the Flyers host Richmond and George Washington.

Back on the road, UD travels to Charlotte and preseason Top-25 St. Louis, then return home for a weekend double dip against Fordham and LaSalle to finish off the home portion of the schedule. The season wraps up on the road against Temple, St. Joseph’s, and Xavier. Notably absent in the unbalanced schedule is preseason Top-25 UMass, fresh off their first-ever College Cup appearance. The absence could end up helping or hurting the Flyers in the race for the A10 regular season title.

With so much parity in men’s soccer, every match is ultimately up for grabs. The college talent pool is just too good to start making postseason plans in late August. Dayton should fare very well at home where Currier’s teams have been most consistent. Finding ways to win on the road and capitalizing on strong run of play will determine the rest. When Dayton outplays their opponent, they need to find the goals and timely defensive stops to substantiate the effort.

Dayton is projected 5th best in the A10, one spot higher than last year’s finish. St. Louis and UMass are probably the frontrunners, but Rhode Island is never far away from the discussion. Outside the conference, Denver, Coastal Carolina, Milwaukee, and Wisconsin won’t be easy tasks. The rivalry against WrightState remains heated. Dayton has had their hands full with the Raiders in recent years in spite of the victories.

TALE OF THE TAPE

There’s a lot to like about the 2008 Flyers. The defensive line is experienced and talented with two more years to gel into one of UD’s all-time best. Veterans like Alex Torda, Joe Olwig, Florian DeCamps, and Jeff Popella have more to showcase.

Dayton must find a quick answer with a long-term solution at goalkeeper and develop better consistency between matches. The best of teams bring their B+ games every night, while the pretenders have report cards showcasing the entire alphabet.

There’s not a game on the schedule UD is clearly outmatched in, but at the same time there are no gimmes. More polish in the midfield is key. Dayton must find a way to win more possession and gobble up loose balls. More than that however, they must demonstrate an ability to do something with possession. Organized transitions from defense to offense can and do win games. Dayton must also improve on set pieces and find the back of the net from the tall timber in the front line. Few teams can match UD’s height inside the box.

Defensively, consistency is where improvement is most needed. All the ingredients are there to be a lock-down back line, but the tendency to give up soft goals is something that must be exorcised for good. Part of that responsibility falls upon the mids and strikers to effectively track back and defend as a team. The best goal scorers are also the least inclined to cherry-pick. Nobody defended better from an attacking position than former UD All-Americans RJ Kaszuba and Chris Rolfe.

Look for two or three new faces from the freshmen/transfer class to separate themselves after the first two weeks of the season.

It’s hard to project a starting 11 on a squad with nearly 30 players. At least two-thirds have experience in the starting lineup and from what we’ve seen in Currier’s tenure, only 5-6 spots should remain locked down all year. As matchups and performance in practice changes, so too will the lineups. Quality depth like UD has should be a weapon all year. The coaching staff has many options. But at the same time, the Flyers need 3-4 guys opposing coaches privately wish pneumonia on the night before a match. You need to be able to rattle off your All-Conference guys when asked -- it’s a byproduct of success and the competition is too fierce anymore not to have those studs.

In year four of the Dennis Currier era, the entire program is now all his. For a coach with a lofty reputation for winning, fans are anxious to reach the NCAAs. Like everything in life, sooner is always better.