2010 Season Review
Signature Wins: After starting the season 3-1 and winning its first conference game, Haverford’s most significant outcome of the young season came in a scoreless tie against then No. 10 Johns Hopkins Sept. 25. That game put the Fords on the radar as a potential Centennial playoff contender and looked even more impressive thanks to the Blue Jays’ run into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. A week after the Hopkins game, the Fords were dominant in a 3-0 victory over Franklin & Marshall, who ended the regular season as the fourth seed in the conference tournament. At the time that win put Haverford in a tie for first place in the Centennial. Haverford’s last win of the season came in the second-to-last game and kept its playoff hopes alive. Junior David Restrepo’s goal in the 88th minute broke a scoreless tie against Washington, giving the Fords the chance to play for a conference tournament berth in the season finale at Swarthmore.
Season Notes: Haverford finished its season with eight victories, the most since 2003, and the program’s first winning season since 2000. The Fords’ four conference victories were the most since winning four in 2002. Junior Alejandro Rettig y Martinez’s 17 points (6G, 5A) were the most in a season by a Haverford player since John Heacock tallied 20 points (8G, 4A) in 2003. With Restrepo’s 16 points (7G, 2A) it was also the first time since 2003 that more than one player has eclipsed 10 points in a season.
Postseason Awards:
- Centennial Conference Coach of the Year: Bill Brady
- All-Centennial Conference: Alejandro Rettig y Martinez (second-team), Matt Gorski (honorable mention), Matt Wetherell (honorable mention)
- Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll: Trevor Barlowe, Edward Gracia, Steve Griffith, David Restrepo, Rettig y Martinez, Jake Seeley, Max Stossel, Wetherell
Looking Ahead: Haverford returns virtually its entire roster for the 2011 season including nine starters. Leading point scorers Rettig y Martinez and Restrepo will be back for their seniors seasons as will sophomore captain Matt Gorski. The defense returns four players who started all 16 games in junior captain Matt Wetherell, junior Steve Griffith and freshmen Adam Morollo and Matt Johnson. Freshman keeper Nick Kahn played valuable minutes in late October which should pay off next season. The Fords were on the cusp of making the Centennial Conference tournament this season and hope to make that transition with some more seasoning in 2011.
2010 Season Outlook
Second-year head coach Bill Brady hopes the 2010 season is another step in the right direction for the Haverford College men’s soccer team. After going 6-11 in 2009 and seeing monumental improvements across the board, his goals are to be better this season and be in the hunt for a Centennial Conference playoff spot.
“We had a successful spring season with great results,” said Brady. “We’ll strive to achieve as much as we can this season, but there’s also a realization there.”
That realization is that this program is still in the development stage of a rebuilding process. The talent and desire are there, but it’s the experience factor and growing pains that will determine how far the Fords can progress by the end of October.
Key Players
Of the top-10 point scorers last season, nine will return in 2010 and eight were either freshmen or sophomores. The Fords will be led by captains’ Max Stossel, a senior, junior Matt Wetherell and sophomore Matt Gorski.
Stossel had another solid campaign in 2009, scoring three goals for the third straight season.
“Max has become more of a two-way player,” explained Brady. “At this time last year he was learning to get more out of himself, now he’s taking the initiative to get more out of his teammates.”
Wetherell started in all 16 games last season on defense and stepped into a leadership role on the back line and will play a crucial role in 2010.
“His biggest development is understanding what’s expected of him,” Brady said. “He has a defined role to win balls in the air, organize the team and distribute the ball simply.”
Last season Gorski led the conference in assists (8) and led the team in points (10). He dished out four assists in conference-only games which tied for tops in the league. This season he will take on more responsibility.
“Last year Matt was a good player who was hesitant to lead as a freshman; now he’s accepted that the team expects a lot from him and he’s comfortable with that role.”
Another returner who Brady saw vast improvement from is junior Tyler Freeman. Last season he played in 17 games, tallying two goals and one assist, but this season he could have an expanded role.
“Tyler was arguably our best player in the spring and made smarter runs and quicker decisions on the field,” said Brady.
Goalkeepers
Brady will have four goalkeepers on his roster, consisting of two returners and two freshmen. Sophomore Charlie Michele and senior Jamey Applegate shared most of the duties last season. Michele made seven saves in five games while Applegate started 11 games, posting 54 saves and three shutouts.
The two newcomers are freshmen Andriy Mshanetskyy and Nick Kahn.
“I’m very excited about the mix of youth and experience we have in goal,” Brady said.
The Rest of the Freshmen
A total of 13 freshmen are on the roster and all hope to compete for playing time. A few who could have an impact right away are David Robinson, Adam Morollo and Jamie Reingruber. Robinson is a center- midfielder whose versatility allows him to play anywhere. Morollo is a center-back who brings a physical presence and Reingruber is a rightback that Brady says loves tackling and starting the attack.
“Overall our freshmen are very enthusiastic and ready to prove themselves,” believes Brady.
The Slate
The schedule was constructed to prepare the Fords for the ultimate goal of being an NCAA participant. A difficult non-conference schedule mixed with an always tough Centennial slate will build toughness while playing in a challenging atmosphere.
The Fords open the season at Christopher Newport (Va.), which was one win away from reaching the NCAA national semifinal in 2009. The next day Haverford faces perennial NCAA tournament participant Virginia Wesleyan.
“We’re going to find out how competitive we are right away,” said Brady.
The Fords will also face quality non-conference opponents in Cabrini Sept. 11, and later during a mid-October trip to New England to face Wheaton (Mass.) and Lasell (Mass.).
Haverford opens conference play at McDaniel Sept. 18 followed by a visit to Walton Field by 2009 champion Johns Hopkins seven days later. The Scarlet and Black will be tested in October with five of their eight contests on the road. The final two road matches are at 2009 regular season conference champion Muhlenberg (Oct. 23) and the season finale at archrival and NCAA tournament participant Swarthmore (Oct. 30).
The Final Word
Haverford’s ultimate goal is to win a Centennial Conference championship and to be an NCAA championship contender. To get there the Fords need to continue their development from a young team with lots of talent into a seasoned team primed for greatness.
“There’s a great energy and excitement from our returning players and our freshmen are eager to play,” said Brady.
That cohesiveness will give the Fords a chance to compete in every game and possibly the opportunity to play meaningful games at the end of October.