2010 Men's Soccer Preview

The Penn State Behrend men's soccer team enters the 2010 season with excitement and anticipation after having one of the best years in program history and then adventuring on a nine-day international trip to Brazil in May. Even in the state of elation, the Lions are also focused on continuing the success with hopes of capturing their first AMCC Championship since 2007.

Last year, the Lions finished the season on a three-game winning streak en route to becoming the 2009 ECAC South Region Champions. It is the first-ever ECAC title for the Lions in four tournament appearances. Behrend posted an overall record of 18-5-2 to set a new program record for most wins. It also marked the fourth straight season the Lions advanced to the AMCC Championship game, eventually falling to four-time champion Medaille, 1-0.

"We will have a nice balance of returning experience and new energy," said head coach Dan Perritano. "Our recent trip to Brazil helped our players get more connected on and off the field."

With five all-conference players and 85 percent of the offense returning, including five top goal scorers from 2009, Behrend will look to make a run for the AMCC title. The confidence of the team is also confirmed by the coaches in the AMCC by voting the Lions as the top choice for the preseason poll. Medaille is ranked second and Penn State Altoona follows in third.

The biggest question for Behrend will be the replacement of Dustin Walker, an exceptional goalie and backbone of the defense who will be on the sidelines as an assistant coach this season. Sean Neely played in three games last year, while Chris Bolea transferred in from Penn State Altoona. Both will fight it out for the starting role on Sept. 1 when the Lions travel to Geneva for their season opener.

The remaining nine starters from last year are all back, including senior midfielders Lance Sabol, Josh Teti and Brian Bodnar. All three started every game for the Lions while Sabol and Teti earned All-AMCC honorable-mention honors. Sabol paced the team with 11 goals for 22 points, while scoring three game-winning goals. Teti tallied four goals and handed out five assists from the midfield in 2009. Bodnar contributed three goals and five assists.

Junior Aaron Meehl will be a critical element to the team's success this season. The midfielder was named to the All-AMCC and All-Great Lakes Region second team last year after recording eight goals and two assists. Meehl's one goal and one assist performance in the ECAC final game made the difference for Behrend.

These four midfielders will have the tremendous talent of senior Jerry Tortella and sophomores Danny Poljak, Cory Hamilton, Jake Gamble and Ryan Banks to feed the ball to up front. Tortella, a fifth-year senior and captain, returned last after sitting out 2008 due to an injury. He battled back to be named to the All-AMCC second team and record five goals and six assists. Tortella currently stands third in career goals and points, only needing six goals and nine points to become the program's all-time leader in both categories. Banks ranked second on the team last year with eight goals and three assists for 19 points.

Gamble and Hamilton each tied for fifth on the team with five goals apiece. Hamilton also led the team with a season-high seven assists for a total of 17 points. Poljak was the only newcomer to start every game, adding one goal and one assist on the year.

"Our midfield will be the core of our team with four starters returning," said Perritano. "Banks, Tortella, Hamilton and Gamble will all see time up front and should provide a good speed mixed with combination play."

Even with the question mark in between the pipes, Perritano is confident in his backline, anchored by senior Zach Herd and junior Kyle McKinney. The defense only allowed 16 goals for a 0.62 goals-against average, while setting a school record of 14 shutouts. McKinney named to the All-AMCC second team and tallied two goals and four assists. Both Herd and McKinney will be pushed by a solid group of newcomers.

After the season opener at Geneva, the Lions host their annual Herb Lauffer Memorial Tournament over Labor Day weekend. Behrend then travels to Colorado College on Sept. 10-12, before opening the AMCC slate at La Roche on Sept. 25.

"Our team is excited to get started against a very formidable Geneva team as well as trying to defend the Herb Lauffer title," said Perritano. "The regional rivals and the trip to Colorado will help us prepare for our conference opponents."