Men's Soccer Looks To Continue Last Season's Success With Veteran Presence In 2010
Posted: Aug 27, 2010

Men's Soccer Looks To Continue Last Season's Success With Veteran Presence In 2010

After posting its highest win total in five years last fall, the Massachusetts Maritime men’s soccer team is looking to continue that success heading into the 2010 campaign.  Veteran Head Coach Greg Perry, who in his 18th season ranks as the “dean” of Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference mentors, welcomes back 15 letterwinners and nine starters from a squad that posted seven overall triumphs, including a victory over eventual ECAC New England champion Wentworth that was one of four shutouts registered by the Buccaneers.

Perry’s tenure has always been one characterized by solid leadership in all facets of the program, and that will certainly be the case again this season, as seniors Kevin McCord (Norwell, Mass./Norwell), Brian Reske (Duxbury, Mass./Sacred Heart) and Jon White (Lynnfield, Mass./Lynnfield), along with junior Ryan Fischer (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield), will serve as Massachusetts Maritime’s captains this fall.  Perry describes this quartet has “individuals who have set a standard for hard work and excellence in this program.  I’m confident that their work ethic, both on and off the field, will be displayed by our entire team.”

Here’s a look at how things are shaping up for the 2010 edition of Buccaneer Men’s Soccer:

FORWARD.  McCord leads the way up front for Perry’s crew, as he shared the team lead with six goals and ranked as the Buccaneers’ second leading scorer with 12 points a year ago.  Senior Kyle Sheehan (Bridgewater, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham) and sophomore Derek Young (Falmouth, Mass./Falmouth) lend additional experience after combining for a pair of tallies and three assists for seven points, while sophomore James Ricciardone (Mount Pleasant, S.C./Bishop England), a transfer from Merchant Marine, will also be vying for a spot up front.

MIDFIELD.  Fischer anchors the middle for Massachusetts Maritime, as he also amassed six goals while adding three assists for 15 points for the Bucs in 2009.  Sophomore Tim McDonough (Framingham, Mass./Framingham) chipped in with a marker and three helpers for five points during his rookie campaign, while the tandem of Reske, senior Andrew Mullen (Bridgewater, Mass./Cardinal Spellman), junior Dennis Doherty (West Falmouth, Mass./Bishop Stang) and sophomore Adam Rabesa (Falmouth, Mass./Falmouth) combined for a goal and three assists for five points as well.  Junior Mike McCarthy (Norwell, Mass./Norwell), who earned all-MASCAC accolades as a freshman, returns after playing in just five contests due to injury last season, while freshmen Tyler Gomes (Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth) and Jake Soifert (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth) will be looking to impact during their inaugural campaigns.

BACK.  Though the loss of two-time all-MASCAC defender Matt McDonnell to graduation leaves a void, Perry will look to the leadership of White, senior Rory O’Donnell (Somerset, Mass./Somerset), junior James Gendrolis (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) and sophomore Adam Vieira (New Bedford, Mass./New Bedford) in providing both experience and depth in the Buccaneer backfield, as White, O’Donnell and Vieira appeared in all 17 contests in 2009 and Gendrolis chipped in with a goal in 14 matches.  The freshman quartet of Hieu Nguyen (Weymouth, Mass./Matignon), Daniel Riley (Hanover, Mass./Hanover), Stephen Machaby (Rockland, Mass./Rockland) and Kyle Camara (Somerset, Mass./Somerset) provide additional depth on defense for the Buccaneers and will be vying for spots in the lineup as rookies.

GOALIE.  Sophomore Patrick Slaney (Northbridge, Mass./Bellingham) established himself as the top last line of defense for Massachusetts Maritime, as he earned MASCAC Player of the Week accolades in October while posting a 2-1-1 mark with a 1.08 goals against average to go with 26 saves and a pair of shutouts.  Freshman Brett Young (Falmouth, Mass./Falmouth) joins brother Derek on the Buccaneer squad and will be looking for time in the cage as a newcomer this fall.

The early part of the schedule presents some challenges for Perry’s crew, as Massachusetts Maritime opens with four of its first five matches away from Buzzards Bay.  But meeting challenges has always been a staple of the Buccaneer program over the years, and the veteran head coach is ready to tackle them once again in 2010.  Massachusetts Maritime opens the new campaign on Wednesday, September 1st by heading to Newton Centre, Mass. to take on Mount Ida in a non-league outing that begins at 3:30 p.m. EDT, and the Buccaneers open their home slate on Wednesday, September 8th in entertaining Becker in a non-league clash at Clean Harbors Stadium that begins at 7:00 p.m. EDT.