Men's Soccer 1998 Season Outlook

May 20, 1999

After earning its first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament last year, the Marquette University men's soccer team seeks a second-consecutive appearance in 1998. With a solid nucleus back from last year's 12-6-3 squad that captured a share of the Conference USA regular-season championship, Head Coach Steve Adlard believes a return trip to the NCAAs is well within Marquette's grasp.

"We're at a level now where we feel that we should contend for a spot in the NCAA Tournament every season," Adlard said. "The program continues to establish itself on a national level and that breeds success. The group we have back from last season knows what it takes to achieve nationally and they are passing that work ethic along to the newcomers. Barring injuries or some unforeseen problems we should be able to warrant consideration for this year's tournament."

Foremost among the returning Golden Eagles is senior goalkeeper Jim Welch. The four-year starter has established himself as an All-American candidate heading into his final season. A 1998 Preseason All-Conference USA selection, Welch started all 21 contests and posted a career-best 0.90 goals-against-average (GAA) a year ago. Among C-USA keepers, he finished second in GAA and shutouts (8), and third in saves (92). For his performance, Welch earned spots on the All-C-USA First Team and the All-Midwest Region First Team.

"Jim's consistent and outstanding play in goal has been a major factor towards our success over the past few seasons," Adlard said. "He allows us to try some new options with all aspects of our play on the field, not just defensively. We are going to be able to try a more attacking style this year because of his ability to get us out of jams.

"Jim has shown that he is one of the top players in this league and should be a factor in Player of the Year voting at the end of the season."

Vying for the backup spot behind Welch is freshman Todd Schramm who helped lead Milwaukee's Marquette High to back-to back WISAA Division 1 state championships the past two seasons.

Helping Welch on the defensive end will be an experienced and versatile group of defenders. Despite the loss of C-USA Defensive Player of the Year Max Stoka, Adlard expects no drop-off along the backline.

"The loss of Max Stoka will be felt, obviously. You don't lose the Defensive Player of the Year and not notice it," Adlard said. "However, we are prepared for that loss. Jeremiah Bass filled in for Stoka at times last season and enjoyed playing the sweeper spot. He definitely has the ability to be successful there.

"And he will be aided by playing along side some experienced teammates. Ryan Taylor and Chad Garofola have seen extensive action back there and know what to do in a variety of situations."

Jeremiah Bass also saw a number of those situations in his freshman season a year ago. Starting all 21, Bass collected three assists and earned All-C-USA Third Team honors. A senior who has started six contests over the previous two seasons, Taylor is the leading candidate to start at center back. He has a knack for being in the right place at the right time and is strong around the box. A junior, Garofola returns for his third season as a starter at wide back. A relentless worker, Garofola is one of the quickest defenders in the league and never wears down.

Among the candidates for the fourth starting position are returnee Mike Adrian and newcomers Josh Kliebe, Jason Hood and Berry Bass. Adrian became an important contributor off the bench last season and provides extra scoring punch from the backline. Kliebe is a sophomore walk-on who has proven to be a workhorse in the preseason. Hood and Bass are freshmen who bring different skills to the table. Hood is a speedy defender who can also patrol the air in front of the net with his leaping ability. Bass, the younger brother of Jeremiah, is a more physical defender.

Also figuring into the equation on defense are Joe Gallo, John Burke and David Snodgrass. Gallo will miss a majority of the season with his third ACL tear.

"We are trying to play an up-tempo style on offense this year, and the strength of our defenders is allowing us to do just that," Adlard said.

Also contributing to this new attack will be a skilled group of midfielders and forwards. Helping lead the attack will be last year's surprise leading scorer, Donny Mark. The sophomore midfielder is a Preseason All-C-USA pick after pacing the Golden Eagles with 14 points in 1997. Teaming with Mark at the midfield will be fellow 1997 C-USA All-Freshmen selection Andy Hunter and junior transfer Nate Winkel. Hunter led the team in assists last year, while the quick Winkel was a starter at Maine last season.

"Mark and Hunter showed last year that they are talented, well-rounded players who have a solid grasp on what they need to do to get ahead," Adlard said. "They will help several of the newcomers up front adjust to our style and to Conference USA. Winkel is a tenacious worker who should feed off of both of the sophomores."

A deep group will also be helping out at midfied. Newcomer Jeremy Evans has exhibited the speed to play along the wings while junior Kevin Eiler returns from a year off to bolster the middle of the field.

Factoring into the midfield lineup are three senior swingmen who can also do double duty at striker. Steve Govin and Martin Conway can play wide and center positions, respectively, and Brian Lehky is a consistent performer who is comfortable in a number of roles. All three are being looked to for leadership both on and off the field, and their ability to fit into different roles for the '98 Golden Eagles may be one of the keys to the season.

Those three will also see considerable time at forward this season, as Adlard breaks in several newcomers at the striker position. Freshman Sean Reti, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Player of the Year, and Wisconsin transfer Marshall Morehead should each have an immediate impact for the Golden Eagles.

"Reti and Morehead will probably be mainstays at striker for us over the next few seasons," Adlard said. "They have some exceptional abilities with the ball and can provide the type of dynamic plays that can turn games around.

"Reti is one of the most elusive players on the field that I have ever seen. He can get where he wants to be, and where the defense doesn't want him to be, easily. Morehead has a scorer's mentality and couples that with a tremendous demeanor on the field. He can raise his teammates' level of play."

Joining Reti and Morehead up front will be Tim Tappel and Kyle Reilly. Tappel is back for his senior year after playing in only six games last season because of an ACL injury. A true goal scorer, Tappel should be at full strength for the entire season and will provide invaluable experience to the offensive attack.

Adlard's troops will need to rely on a blend of talent and experience to contend with a schedule that seems to get tougher every year. After opening with two games at the Valley Fields, Marquette hits the road for a five-game swing that includes matches against regional rivals UW-Milwaukee and UW-Green Bay as well as the C-USA opener at UNC Charlotte. The Golden Eagles are also away near the end of the season as they play at the prestigious Bell South Classic in Miami, Fla., Oct. 30-Nov. 1. Marquette will face host Florida International, a perennial national contender, and up-and-coming Jacksonville in the tournament. In between, the Golden Eagles have the advantage of meeting non-conference foes Drake, Wisconsin and Northwestern at home. Marquette also welcomes 1997 Final Four participant Saint Louis to Milwaukee on Sept. 25, as well as '96 Final Four member South Florida on Oct. 18.

"Every team seems to improve each season," Adlard said. "But we have improved, too. We know that when we step on the field that we can compete with anyone now. For a few seasons we couldn't find consistency at that next level and last year we finally did. And now we want to find that consistency that enables us to stay at that level year after year. This year's team has the ability to successfully compete at this higher level game after game."