Season Preview: SU ready to return to NCAA postseason
SALISBURY, Md. - The Salisbury University men's soccer team missed the NCAA tournament for the first time in five years last season. The Gulls fell on hard luck and received no breaks as they went 11-5-1 and lost in the Capital Athletic Conference semifinals to No. 3 York (Pa.) College. The Gulls want to erase those memories in ’07 as the maroon and gold returns one of the deepest and experienced teams in school history.

Salisbury has a cabinet full of talent as 58 percent of its goal production returns from a year ago along with 73 percent of its assists. SU coach Gerry DiBartolo, four-time CAC Coach of the Year, enters the '07 campaign just 11 wins shy of the 300 career win mark. He enters his 26th season at SU with a 289-145-34 career record. SU looks to reverse its luck and contend for a sixth conference championship and a return to the NCAA postseason.

"Our goals remain the same each year, to win the CAC and earn a bid in the NCAA tournament," said DiBartolo.

Forwards
Salisbury historically has one of the best offensive teams in conference year in and year out. Last season, was no different as they were second in the CAC with a 2.59 goals scored per game average. The Gulls also took 125 corners a year ago and were a perfect 5-for-5 on penalty kicks. SU lost a key cog in the offensive wheel with the graduation of striker Wijy Jones who tied for the team lead with nine goals and sported a six-game goal scoring streak.

Junior Nick Malone (Salisbury, Md.) returns as the team’s top goal scorer as he led the club with 22 points in 2006. The junior netted nine goals and started in all 17 games. Malone averaged 2.49 shots per game and ranked second on the team with 24 shots on goal.

"He [Malone] had a great 2006. He and Wijy [Jones] formed a dangerous pair of forwards," said DiBartolo. "Nick had a great spring. He trained hard and played well in Europe and is coming into camp healthy."

"The offense this season will be just as well if not more efficient than last season. I feel more comfortable on the ball and so do my teammates," said Malone. "Some new faces will help our offense along with the returning starters from last year. Losing Jones as a partner up top will be difficult but I will pick up the remaining slack this year. I am ready for the challenge."

Midfield
SU has an extremely talented and versatile core of midfielders, who saw meaningful game time last season, returning to the pitch in 2007. After a breakthrough freshman season local product Kyle Sterling (Salisbury, Md.) will join seniors Andrew Henciak (Bel Air, Md.) and Zach Grubb (Aberdeen, Md.) in the midfield. Sterling had 16 points (six goals, four assists) in his freshman campaign and became a starter by the end of the season. Sterling also led the team with three game-winning goals and averaged 1.22 points per game when he started.

"Kyle came on strong the second half of last season," said DiBartolo. "I think this will be his breakout season. He can play a couple of position for us. He is stronger, quicker and has improved his skill level tremendously. Throughout our Europe trip he was our most dangerous offensive weapon."

Henciak is a redshirt senior and has taken the field 41 times for the Sea Gulls since 2003. The outside midfielder has recorded two career goals and one assist.

Rounding out the potential starters at midfield is fellow upperclassman Grubb. The senior midfielder returns with 31 games under his belt, eight goals and one assist in his career at SU.

Defense
The SU soccer trademark under DiBartolo has been their defense. In 2006, the Gulls recorded six shutouts which included a 4-0 shutout of Marymount (Va.) University in the CAC tournament. In the six shutouts the SU defense really shined as they gave up only 13 shots on goal and a mere 36 shots total. The Sea Gull defense allowed 1.29 goals per game which was almost a goal more than the previous two seasons (0.47 in 2005 and 0.57 in 2004).

"We had to mix and match players in different spots last season," said DiBartolo of his defense. "This season we have a lot more stability, players are in their second year of the system and know their responsibilities."

The maroon and gold defense will need to return to form this season and it has just the backers to do it led by the lone defensive senior, David Kroening (Rochester, N.Y.).

"Last year, we had some young guys fit into roles that they haven't had too much experience with. Now that they have had a year to grow, it looks like they're getting more comfortable and confident," said Kroening. "That coupled with what looks to be tough competition for spots should have everyone on top of their game."

"He [Kroening] plays hard and is very emotional on the field and is a huge piece of this team's success," said DiBartolo. "He had a great summer playing holding midfielder for the Virginia Legacy of the PDL."

Kroening started all 17 games in 2006 and has logged 44 total games in his career to go along with his 11 career points (three goals, five assists). The senior is a co-captain and will be expected to be the leader on the defensive half of the field. He will also have the responsibility of shutting down the opposition’s most dangerous goal scorer.

"I'm quite honored to have been selected for the position. As my teammates could tell you, I take a more in practice/in game role as a leader. I guess I prefer to lead by example on the field but when I notice something I never hesitate to speak up," said Kroening.

Sea Gull junior Steven Merrow (Shaftsbury, Vt.) looks to build off a stellar sophomore campaign where he played in every game and started in 15-of-17. Merrow is listed at 6-2 and uses his height and leaping ability to his advantage to cause numerous problems for opposing players especially when battling for loose balls.

Sophomore Justin McGrath (Perry Hall, Md.) saw substantial time as a freshman in 2006 as he appeared in 16 games and started seven. He flourished with his excellent ball control abilities. McGrath is one of the fastest players on the field at all times with and without the ball at his foot.

Goalie
Once again the Salisbury goalie position is up for grabs this season. Competing for the starting job will be senior Matt Blue (Easton, Md.), junior Greg Wellingoff and sophomore Josh Scotton (Delmar, Md.).

"We are really excited about our options at goalie this year," said DiBartolo. "The competition in camp and throughout the year will keep our guys prepared and playing their best."

Blue returns as the most experienced player in regards to game minutes. He started in eight of the nine games he played in and posted a 5-2 record and a shutout. Blue made 25 saves and only allowed nine goals.

Scotton saw limited action last season (two games, 58:16 minutes) but made two saves and did not surrender a goal. Wellingoff was not with the team in 2006 however he did play two games, giving up no goals, in 2005.

"Our goalkeeping was exceptional in Europe. All three players made significant contributions to the team," said DiBartolo.

Schedule
Salisbury once again sports one of the toughest conference and non-conference schedules in the region.  Salisbury kicks off the 2007 campaign as they host their annual Elmer Lord Memorial Soccer Classic during the first weekend of September. A week later the Sea Gulls travel to Raleigh, N.C., to partake in the Esprit D-III Soccer Tournament where they finished 2-0 last year.

Salisbury will then hit the road with a trip to New York for the second ever meeting against a tough Rochester team on the 23rd of September. SU shutout UR last season by the score of 1-0. The maroon and gold will continue their strenuous road schedule on September 29th when they travel to York, Pa., as they match up against the two-time defending CAC regular-season and tournament champions, York. The Spartans are currently riding a 40-match unbeaten streak and ended the 2006 season 21-0-3. SU hosts CAC newcomer Wesley on October 3rd in their first meeting since 1996. The Gulls have dominated the all-time series 9-1-1 and lost the previous match-up 2-1. The Wolverines sported a 10-game win streak, recorded 12 shutouts and finished up the 2006 campaign with a 14-5-2 record. Salisbury's last out of conference test will be on October 17th when they host Christopher Newport who had a 15-5-2 record last season and won the DIAC championship and made an appearance in the NCAA tournament.

"We schedule the best team that we can every year. Our conference games will be a big test for us. We added some new teams from the ODAC as well as some more local games [Wesley and Washington (Md.)] to our out of conference lineup," said DiBartolo.

European Summer Trip
The team got an early start to its 2007 campaign as it took a preseason trip to the Netherlands and Germany for a European Soccer Tour from August 6-14. The Sea Gulls participated in three soccer friendly matches and took in a cultural experience that started in Amsterdam and moved to Cologne and finally departed from their last stop Nurnberg, Germany.

SU received two coaching sessions with the German and Dutch national coaches. The trip included tours of each city along with visits to the Amsterdam football (soccer) stadium, Ajax museum, a cruise of the Amsterdam canal, German Sports and Olympic Museum, and a visit to the Adidas-Sportschuh Museum in Herzogenaurach.

"The experience was great, the team bonded on and off the field, and we played extremely well," said DiBartolo.

Summary
The Sea Gulls will be tested with a tough schedule but their success will be determined by how the upperclassmen step up on both sides of the ball. The offensive attack could be one of the best in the nation, paired with an already feared defense is a winning solution for SU to return to the NCAA tournament.

"We had a great recruiting year. We got who we wanted and I feel that this year's camp will be the most competitive in five years," said DiBartolo. "We have a lot of eager young players who know they need to play hard and our exceptional level for the players as well as the team are really high. We will continue to work hard and play hard to reach our goal in becoming CAC champions."