2008 Men's Soccer Season Outlook
Aug. 13, 2008
Armed with a returning All-American, five first-team All-Region performers and the reigning Atlantic 10 Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, the 2008 Billiken men's soccer squad figures to be a legitimate national contender. The Billikens, who finished 12-2-5 last season and made their record 44th NCAA Tournament appearance, return one of the most experienced clubs in recent history. Overall, the Bills return nine starters who accounted for 40 of the team's 41 goals a season ago. Additionally, the Billikens return several key cogs in their midfield and their top two goalkeepers. An impressive group of six seniors will lead the charge as Saint Louis searches for its fourth straight A-10 regular-season title. They are hungry for another chance in the post season. Last season, the Billikens' promising season ended in penalty kicks in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. "This class has unbelievable potential," eighth-year Billiken coach Dan Donigan said. "All are extremely talented in their own way, and they really complement each other. Without a doubt, all six of these seniors have a legitimate chance at playing at the next level. I don't think I've ever had a class with this much maturity, talent and ability." Depth and versatility have always been a priority for a Donigan-coached team, and this season is no different. A talented mix of upperclassmen, in addition to 11 newcomers, are fighting for jobs. With this healthy competition come important decisions that the coaching staff will have to sort out quickly. While versatility is a must in the collegiate game, it again charges the coaching staff with a tough task of figuring how to field the most efficient starting eleven. The Billikens have three weeks of preseason training and two exhibition matches before starting their regular season with four matches away from Robert R. Hermann Stadium.
"If you look at successful teams in college and around the world, they all have players who easily could be starting but have equally important roles off the bench," Donigan said. "That will be our situation this season. We can only start 10 field players, so obviously there will be a number of guys who are potentially talented enough to start, but who will have to have the right mentality to come off the bench for us. "With the veterans we have on this team, for any one of our newcomers to come in and contribute would be a great bonus to our team's success. This is a program where young players can come in and develop due to the great players around them. I would expect nothing else than that from this freshman class." • FORWARDS • One player who will surely be found in the starting lineup is Dado Hamzagic. A first-team All-Region selection last season after netting 14 points (5G, 4A), he will be relied upon to shoulder a big load on the offensive side of the ball.
"Dado does not have a ceiling as far as his potential as a player," Donigan said. "He has all the physical tools to be successful not only this season but in a soccer career after college. The best has yet to come from Dado. I think he is going to be one of the most dangerous players in the country." Jimmy Holmes and Scott Wisniewski made an enormous impact up top late last year. In the final eight games of the season, the duo combined for 27 points. Holmes scored a goal in six straight A-10 contests, and Wisniewski netted four goals in four games en route to finishing second on the team with 18 points (7G, 4A). Holmes has been nagged by injuries in his career, but the 2006 Missouri High School Class 2 Player of the Year is poised to pick up where he left off. Wisniewski, a second-team All-Conference selection last season, can play a big role in the Billikens' offensive scheme. Donigan speaks the same about both of them, noting they are extremely dangerous and capable of scoring a big goal late in a big match. "This is a big year for Jimmy and Scott," Donigan said. "Their careers thus far have shown how a player typically progresses. If you're a great player for four years, that is special. If you can do that for two, that is more toward the norm. By the time you are a junior, you better be serious about your game." Sophomore Charles Bryce and freshman Jonas Reiter can add depth on the front line. Donigan identified Bryce as a player who is one of the hardest working on the club, one who shows up early and stays late at practice. Reiter is a polished goal scorer out of the Pateadores' Soccer Club in California who was added to the A-10 All-Rookie Team. • MIDFIELD • Regardless of the formation the Billikens run, the middle of the field is the link that will hold everything together. The talent-laden group of midfielders on the SLU roster are all bona fide two-way players, each capable of joining the attack or sitting back to manage the tempo of the game. Kyle Patterson, the reigning A-10 Offensive Player of the Year, had a breakout year in 2007 while leading the team with 24 points (10G, 4A). He exploded for 16 points (6G, 4A) in league games, including netting a natural hat trick in under three minutes against Saint Joseph's. One of two seniors who hails from England, Patterson will again be looked upon to provide scoring chances out of the right wing in the midfield. "I am extremely proud of Kyle and how he has adapted to soccer and school in the United States," Donigan said. "He is a true leader on and off the field, and that is a difficult task to achieve for international players. I expect him to continue the success he enjoyed last year."
"Brandon has settled into our program nicely, and I see no reason why he shouldn't have a tremendous season for us," Donigan said. "He is an electrifying player who has an incredible ability that should take him to the next level." Stabilizing the central midfield should not be a problem for SLU with the return of Eric Sweetin. The first-team All-Region pick is fully recovered from an ankle injury he played with the majority of last season. A 5-foot-5 dynamo in the middle, Sweetin will continue his role of linking the offense and defense.
Arguably one of the most underrated players from last season's squad, Josh Aranda enters his junior season as a team captain. He continues to recover from offseason hip surgery and may be slowed in the preseason. Donigan expects him to be full speed for the majority of the season. "In a sense, Josh was our unsung hero last year," Donigan said. "There is no other guy that his teammates would count on to go to war with. He is the epitome of a player you want alongside you in a big match." Junior Kyle Hayes has to be thrown into the fray when discussing impact players in the Billiken midfield. Donigan speaks highly of Hayes' blue-collar attitude and his savvy soccer sense. "Kyle is someone who brings a lot of variety," Donigan said. "He can play on any one of three lines and can deal with a variety of situations. He also has a knack for performing well in big games." Like Hayes, UCLA transfer James Jaramillo is a player who can be counted upon to play a variety of roles. The 6-footer will be primed to play up top, in an offensive- or defensive-minded role in the middle or on the back line. Wherever he ends up on the field, he will be noticed. "His versatility presents our coaching staff with a difficult task," Donigan said. "We have to find out quickly where James is most efficient in our system. He adds a tremendous amount of experience to an already veteran team." Beau Bellomy, who was named to the All-Rookie Team in the A-10 last season after netting four goals, should continue in the same role that saw him appear in 12 games off the bench last season. Donigan explained that Bellomy's size and versatility make him a candidate for extended playing time. Additional depth in the midfield will be provided by several younger players who will only get better by learning from the players around them. Sophomore David Kekec, who played in five games a season ago, is an option. Also, freshmen Danny Olwig and Daniel Wrzosek will use this season to get acclimated to the college game. Both are aggressive players who will fight for playing time and add depth to the position. • DEFENDERS • Last season, the Billikens yielded a league-low 13 goals. Only 84 of the 199 shots against them managed to find the goal. A big reason for that was the play of SLU's staunch back line, which once again will be anchored by All-American Calum Angus.
"It has been an unbelievable maturation process that Calum has gone through," Donigan said. "His on-the-field ability speaks for themselves; I am just as proud of the way he has acclimated himself in the classroom after coming over from England. He will be the heart and soul of our back line." Joining Angus in the central backfield is former A-10 Rookie of the Year Rob Viviano. Last season, he earned honorable-mention All-Conference plaudits. He has been a mainstay in the backfield his first two seasons, and this year is shaping up to be no different. "Rob is a player we don't even think about taking off the field, and that speaks volumes about what he means to our team and back line," Donigan said. "He brings attitude and toughness that is needed on our back line. "Cal and Rob are ideal central defenders because they know when to play simple and when to be destructive. They have a very good feel for the game and can control our defensive mentality. I weigh heavily on the fact that our center backs can control and dictate the tempo of the game. Rob and Cal definitely do that for us." Junior Tim Ream returns to the back line after starting every game on the left side a season ago. He had four assists last year and earned second-team All-Conference honors for his effort. Ream's strong left foot has helped him draw comparisons to another strong left-footed player, former Billiken and current Houston Dynamo Brad Davis. "I don't think it is far-fetched to say that Tim may be our best all-around player," Donigan said. "He has the size, intelligence and poise to be an incredibly effective soccer player. He is very disciplined and plays within our system. Right now he is most efficient at left back, but realistically if we threw him in the middle, he could run the entire show. That is how adaptive and talented he is." The Billikens enter preseason training with a question mark at right back. The aforementioned Jaramillo and/or Aranda could slide back to fill that role. Or, a number of newcomers or returnees may earn a starting job. Junior James Dice, who played in just three games a year ago, has progressed this offseason and will be a candidate for playing time. He filled in during the spring on the back line, and he will continue that progression this season. "James has solidified himself on our roster with a strong winter and spring," Donigan said. "He has some good physical tools and has shown a mentality that he belongs." A group of talented newcomers, led by preseason All-Rookie Team selection Keegan Smith, will fight for playing time and add the all-important depth to the defense. Smith, who starred for the Solar Soccer Club in Dallas, is physical and has good size. Andrew Park, who enters the program with sophomore eligibility after transferring from Loyola Marymount, is also capable of providing minutes in the defense. He played in 11 games with three starts for the Lions in 2007. Donigan is pleased with the outlook on a trio of freshmen who will battle for playing time on the defense. Tyler McNabb, a 6-foot-3 defender who pushes 200 pounds, brings physical attributes to the defense that have rarely been seen at SLU. Like all freshmen, McNabb will benefit from his time in the program to get acclimated to the college game. The presence of California's Brent Hellesen and Dallas' Alex Johnston will add depth and competition for playing time. Donigan says both are capable of competing for playing time immediately. • GOALKEEPERS • The Billikens enter the season with a pair of proven No. 1 keepers. Senior Pat Disbennett, who has been struck with injuries the past two seasons, has been granted a fifth year of eligibility. He will compete for the starting position with Ross Kaufman, who has accumulated a 22-5-3 career record in his first two seasons with the Billikens. "I can't name a No. 1 keeper coming in," Donigan said. "In a sense, we have two No. 1 keepers coming back. It is a great situation to be in from a coaching and team perspective, but I understand the difficulty that Pat and Ross face. We can play only one goalkeeper, and it's not my philosophy to have them split halves or games. You have to find what works and run with it." Disbennett suffered a facial injury that required surgery in the second game of the year a season ago, but he bounced back late in the season and was in goal for SLU's double-overtime shutouts in the A-10 semifinals and NCAA Tournament. He did not play at all in 2006 and saw action in 13 matches his freshman and sophomore seasons.
"Pat is effective in that he disseminates confidence to the other players on the field," Donigan said. "His teammates have incredible trust and faith in him to make the big save in the big game." Kaufman has effectively filled the void in Disbennett's absence the past two seasons. Of his 22 career victories, 14 have come via the shutout. He holds a 0.74 goals against average and has made 82 career saves. "Ross has come into our program and has really been a savior in goal," Donigan said. "He and Pat are going to have healthy competition for the starting spot." If past years are any indication, the Billikens must an able group of backup keepers. Filling that role are a freshmen Lucas Dyer and Alex Johnson. Donigan believes they can be major contributors down the road, but in the meantime they will provide depth and security at the position and compete daily on the training field. • SCHEDULE • Donigan and his coaching staff have once again put together a challenging schedule. Particularly intriguing are non-conference home matches against Connecticut and reigning Hermann Trophy winner O'Brian White, Creighton and Northwestern. However, before getting to that home schedule, the Billikens play their first four games on the road in tournaments at Loyola Marymount and Creighton. They open with tilts against San Diego and Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, then face UC Riverside and Portland in Omaha, Neb. "Those are going to be four incredibly difficult games on the road," Donigan said. "We need to take care of business the first two weeks so we are in a good position when we face UConn, which I feel may be a top-five team in the country when we face them in the home opener." Sandwiched between the UConn and Northwestern matches are home games against Denver and Missouri State. The Creighton tilt is the final non-conference match before the Billikens open the A-10 portion of their schedule on the road at La Salle. This year's A-10 Championship, which the Billikens are looking to win for the first time, will take place at Duquesne's Rooney Field beginning Nov. 13. "Our league gets stronger and stronger every year," Donigan said. "People always expect us to be at the top of this conference, and that is not an easy task. This conference is only getting better, which makes every game more difficult every year." |
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