After posting a school record 18 wins and advancing to the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals, the Millersville men's soccer team is in search of another winning campaign and some post-season hardware in 2009. The Marauders open up with a non-conference tilt against Philadelphia on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. at Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium.

2009 Season Outlook

Since Steve Widdowson took over as the head men's soccer coach in 2007, the program has quickly and efficiently built a solid foundation. The 2009 team will look to build on that foundation and make its own history in the process.

The 2008 squad tore through the regular season, posting a 15-2 record, with the only blemishes being 2-1 setbacks to Mercyhurst and Slippery Rock, both PSAC West foes. The Marauders knocked off four nationally ranked opponents along the way and ascended to the highest national ranking in program history, when they were ranked fifth in the NSCAA/adidas Division II poll on November 4.

Millersville continued on to find success in the post-season, despite falling 3-2 to California (Pa.) in the PSAC Championship. Widdowson's club earned the program's first NCAA tournament berth −in its 49th season− and rebounded from the disappointment of the conference championship game with a 3-0 win over the same Cal team in the first round of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional.

The Black and Gold then avenged a regular season loss to Slippery Rock by blanking The Rock 1-0 to win the Atlantic Regional. Having advanced out of the regional, the Marauders met up with No. 10 Northern Kentucky in the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals on November 22. Shane Seabrook would knot the game at one in the waning minutes of regulation, but Millersville would fall 5-4 in penalty kicks to end the season.

The best season in school history to date ended with the team compiling an 18-3-1 record. The team also racked up multiple conference awards and post-season accolades. Widdowson was named PSAC East Coach of the Year and NSCAA/adidas Senior Men's College Atlantic Region Coach of the Year. Sean McLaughlin was the 2008 PSAC East Athlete of the Year and was selected to multiple post-season teams. Matt Procopio also made multiple post-season teams, and Ryan Kiley was named PSAC East Player of the Week two times. The Marauders also combined to place five players on the All-PSAC East First and Second Teams.

The Marauders lose some key pieces in McLaughlin, Kiley, and Procopio, all to graduation. McLaughlin finished his career third all-time in points (90) and fourth in goals (34). While Millersville will certainly miss the contributions of its graduates, many players from last year's record-setting team are back in the fold for 2009.

Despite only having three seniors in 2009, the squad has plenty of big-game experience from a season ago. The mix of veteran leadership and incoming youth, anchored by junior keeper Matt Langione, should put the Marauders in contention for a division and conference title this season.

Forward
Goal scoring was aplenty last season, as the Marauders averaged 2.68 goals per game and finished with 59 goals for the season. The 59 goals were the second most in a season in school history, trailing the 71 goals scored by the 1998 team. McLaughlin was the leader of the pack, netting a team-high 14 goals.

Some candidates to step up and provide some more offense in 2009 include Kyle Loughlin and Dan Prian. Loughlin, a 2008 All-PSAC East Second Team selection, was the team's third leading scorer −as a sophomore− last season, finishing with seven goals and nine assists for 23 points. Prian saw action in all 22 games, registering 10 points (4 goals, 2 assists) in his rookie campaign. Loughlin (6'1) and Prian (6'3) are both tall and move well for their size and can get to a lot of loose ball scrambles in the box, attributes that certainly won't hurt their chances to rack up offensive numbers.

Midfield
Millersville returns many of its midfielders from a year ago and should be solid at the position. Sophomore Pat Baffuto made immediate contributions during his freshman season. Baffuto was the team's fourth leading scorer, potting seven goals, two of which came in post-season contests.

Seabrook and fellow midfielders Ethan Daubert, Matt Wilson, Eric Pepper, and Luis Guerrero should help the Marauders at both ends of the field. All had a major impact in making Millersville tough to score against and any one of the midfielders can contribute some offensive help if necessary.

One of the Marauders' three seniors, Steve Melnick, will also look to play a role in the Millersville midfield this year after his junior season was cut short due to injury.

Defense
Even with the loss of Procopio, Millersville returns most of its backline in 2009. Senior Thomas Bargmann should provide leadership for a group that allowed just 81 shots on goal last season. All-PSAC East First Team defender John Claffey returns to the lineup this season, as does Jeremy Yoder.

The Millersville defense was stellar last season, holding opponents to just one goal per game (22 goals, 22 games played). Still, the Marauders' defenders believe they can improve upon those gaudy numbers in 2009 and will do their best to help out Langione behind them.

Defensive depth is a little bit thin comparative to other positions, but the Marauders do have junior Kevin Hennessey, as well as incoming freshmen Ross Fisher and Mike Curtis to help out in the back.

Goalkeeper
Matt Langione picked up all 18 wins that the team amassed last season and was impressive in doing so. As a sophomore, Langione recorded 6.5 shutouts and helped the squad lead the PSAC in goals against average (0.98). Langione started all 22 games and made 75 saves throughout the season. The third-year player will look to improve upon a .789 save percentage this season and is intent on racking up a few more shutouts.

Behind Langione are Kurt Pleier and Lucas Stacey. Both Pleier and Stacey allowed just one goal last season, but combined for 1.5 shutouts, which helped the Marauders rank second in the PSAC with eight total shutouts.