Men's Soccer Preview, Part 2: Butler
Aug. 15, 2006
New head coach Kelly Findley is facing several challenges as he approaches his first season at the helm of the Butler men's soccer team, not the least of which is incorporating 11 new players into the squad. He has to replace a pair of four-year starters and an all-league midfielder, and he has to find a way to reignite a Butler offense that scored just three goals in the final eight matches last season. And he's seeking to reestablish the defensive tenacity and toughness that helped Butler earn a "Top 10" ranking in the Great Lakes Region in the first half of the 2005 campaign
But the former Charlotte associate head coach has taken the challenges in stride, and he's optimistic as he looks to the 2006 season.
"I like the character, determination and cohesiveness we have on this year's team," stated Findley, who spent the past five seasons on the men's soccer staff at Charlotte. "We have a good group of returning players who are team guys. They've shown that they're willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. And with all of the new players, it's going to take a good team spirit and (the players) are buying into that and appreciating each other's strengths."
Butler endured a most unusual campaign a year ago. The Bulldogs won nine of their first 11 matches in 2005, including a 1-0 upset of #22 Ohio State, and the team climbed as high as seventh in the Great Lakes Region. Butler's defense posted eight shutouts in the first 11 contests, and goalkeeper Frank Peabody was ranked No. 1 in the nation in goals against average and save percentage at the midway point of the season.
But the second half of the season brought about a dramatic change. Peabody suffered an elbow injury in practice in early October, causing him to miss six straight matches, and the Bulldogs' defense began to struggle. Butler lost its final eight matches of the season and ended with a 9-10 mark on the year. The Bulldogs, who had allowed just four goals in the first 11 matches of the season, wound up surrendering 19 goals in the final eight contests.
"We've gotten past the way last season ended," said Findley, who was named Butler's head coach in December of 2005. "We had a good spring, and that's what we're building upon."
Findley does have to replace four-year starters John Mariscalco and Scott Olsen, plus All-Horizon League midfielder Roberto Gallo. Also gone are starting defenders Patrick Reilly and Tim Kerstein. But the first-year head coach can call on five returning regulars, including 2005 scoring leaders Eduardo Garcia and John DeVae.
Garcia started 11 matches in his first season at Butler last year, and he finished with a team-high 10 points. The 6-1, 180-pound forward scored a team-best four goals, including two game-winners, and he added a pair of assists. DeVae, also playing in his first season with the Bulldogs after transferring from UIC, added three goals and two assists, while earning second team all-league recognition.
Findley expects the two returning starters to provide much of the offensive leadership for his club. He'll also be looking to a third returnee, sophomore Frank Patano, to add some offensive punch. Patano played in 18 matches as a freshman and tied for fourth on the team in scoring with two goals and two assists. A fourth forward who could figure prominently is freshman Dorshon Deans, who helped lead the Houstonians club team to the South Texas State Cup Championships in 2004 and 2005.
The Bulldogs should be equally well stocked in the midfield with returning letterwinners Tom Turner, Danny Akl and Ian Sweeney, plus promising newcomers Callum Emo, Lucas Carden, Adam Burch, David Giarratana and Kyle VondenBenken. Turner, a senior, played in 16 matches last season, while Akl, a sophomore, saw action in 12 contests. Sweeney played in two matches in his first season with the Bulldogs. Giarratana, a transfer from Victoria University, is a sophomore, while the other newcomers are all freshmen. Emo was a top club performer in New Zealand and a former high school Player of the Year.
Findley's remaining three returning starters will form the foundation of Butler's defense.
"Frank (Peabody) is a potential All-America candidate. Our guys have a lot of confidence in him, and the experience that he has puts him in that special category," added Findley. "And we have a couple of proven players in Matt Soldato and Aaron Thompson. Because we have a lot of young, unproven players, there's going to be a lot of ups and downs, so we're going to have to have some stability in our core, and that's going to start in the back for us. Defense is going to be key for us to be successful."
Peabody, who's back at full strength, had six shutouts in 2005, and he finished the season with a 0.73 goals against average, 47 saves and an .855 save percentage. His goals against average was the second best mark in the Horizon League. Soldato and Thompson were two of the more consistent players on the team a year ago, and both should rank among the top backs in the league this year. Both players started 18 matches last season, and both played key roles in Butler's strong defensive start. Peabody and Soldato were named captains of this year's team.
Giving Findley solid depth at goalkeeper this season will be junior Mike Sims and sophomore Nick Hegeman, both returning letterwinners. Sims had two shutouts and a 1.58 goals against average in six starts last season, while Hegeman turned in a 2.54 GAA in three matches.
The remaining defensive unit will include senior Paul Mongillo, who played in 12 matches last fall, sophomore Joe Wienman, and newcomers Mike DeAngelis, Austin Evans, Jared Gillespie and Zach Bement. DeAngelis is a transfer from Embry-Riddle, while the other three newcomers are freshmen.
Butler will open the 2006 campaign with seven consecutive road matches, including tournaments at Wright State (August 25-27) and Michigan (Sept. 8-10). Findley's squad will play its first home match on Monday, Sept. 18, against Western Kentucky, and the Bulldogs will begin Horizon League play at Wright State on Sept. 24.
"Our goal is to win the league and get into the NCAA Tournament," added Findley. "We want to be in the hunt and the end of the season with a chance to win it."
Story provided by Butler Office of Sports Information
