Season Outlook: No. 6 men's soccer set to begin third consecutive title-defense season
8/24/2022 3:26:00 PM | Men's Soccer
MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – Head coach Steve Widdowson and the No. 6 Millersville men's soccer team are back for another title defense season after winning a third consecutive Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Title in the fall of 2021. The Marauders' 2021 season was one of the most successful in program history, as they followed up their conference title with an exciting run to the NCAA Quarterfinals that featured back-to-back advances in penalty kicks before falling in double-overtime to the defending national champions and eventual national runner-up, Charleston (W. Va.).
Widdowson enters his 16th season at the helm of the 'Ville men's soccer program and currently ranks 18th among all active Division II coaches in winning percentage and 34th in career wins in the most recently released rankings. He has led the program to four PSAC Titles and made the PSAC Title game eight times in 15 seasons. The Sheffield, England native will look to do the same in 2022 and attempt to complete the first four-peat since East Stroudsburg won seven consecutive titles from 1997-2003.
Joining Widdowson are assistant coaches Kevin Wolfe and Darian McCauley, along with volunteer assistant coach, Danny DiPrima. Wolfe served as Widdowson's head assistant during the 2021 season and has plenty of experience in the PSAC, as he is a former all-region performer at Lock Haven. McCauley, a 2019 graduate of Millersville, was recently hired as a full-time assistant for both the men's and women's soccer programs and will split his duties between each. He is a former All-PSAC East First Team goalkeeper at Millersville and started 75 games for the Marauders over a four-year span, recording a program-high 24 shutouts and the second most wins in program history with 42. DiPrima is a former Division I soccer player at NC State in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and comes to Millersville after serving as an assistant coach at York College from 2018-2022.
RETURNERS
The Marauders' lost a handful of key players from the 2021 team including, Matteo Adiletta, Anthony Calamia and Nik Provazzo, who were vital parts of the team's overall success last season; However, Marauder fans will see several familiar faces heading into 2022.
Redshirt sophomore defender, Aaron Maynard returns after being named United Soccer Coaches Division II Third Team All-American, United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region First Team, All-PSAC East First Team and D2CCA All-Atlantic Region Second Team. Maynard was a staple on the Marauder back line, being one of two players to start all 23 games and leading the team in minutes played with over 2,000. Maynard is joined on the defensive end of the field by two returning starters, Mike Kreider and All-PSAC East Second Team selection, Jake Altimore. Goalkeeper Bobby Bosch is back as well -- Bosch ended last season as the PSAC leader in goals against average, while ranking third in shutouts per game. He held a 10-3-2 record, with the two ties resulting in Millersville advancing through PKs. Defenders, Ronnie Minges and Ronny Bantang also return to the black and gold in 2022.
In the midfield, Widdowson returns All-PSAC East Second Team selection, Bob Hennessey, who scored five goals and sent out five assists last season. The redshirt junior provided fireworks in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, sending in game-clinching PK's in both 'Ville matches. Devven Frey returns in the middle of the field as the group's primary center-midfielder, the sophomore started the final 12 games last season and scored two game-winning goals. Midfielders, Cody Scully and Christian Vorchheimer also return for their sophomore years.
Spencer Shortt, Matt Lynch and Richy Valverde all return on the front line for Millersville. Shortt, an All-PSAC Second Team selection, finished the 2021 season leading the team in both points (26) and assists (12), while tying for the team lead in goals (7), shots (63) and shots on goal (31). His 12 assists led the PSAC and ranked fifth in the nation. Lynch showed promising potential in 2021 and provided offense for Widdowson off the bench throughout the season. The redshirt sophomore finished the year with four goals and ranked third on the team in both shots (51) and shots on goal (25). Valverde saw an increase of minutes towards the end of last season and took full advantage, scoring two of his three goals in the postseason, one coming against Mercyhurst in the PSAC Semifinal and one against Charleston (W. Va.) in the NCAA Quarterfinal.
In total, Millersville returns 13 players from the 2021 roster.
NEWCOMERS
The 2022 roster also includes nine new faces that will figure to play a role this season. Of the nine players there are five midfielders, two forwards, one defender and a goalkeeper.
The midfielders include, Christian Bowles (Reading, Pa.), Fallou Cisse (Shrewbury, Pa.), Brendan Corpus (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.), Colin Coffield (New Tripoli, Pa.), and Sasha Rabala (Nairobi, Kenya).
The forwards include Peter Chol (Lancaster, Pa.) and Zander Leik (Dallastown, Pa.).
Gage Meckley (Lititz, Pa.) is the lone defender and Travis Holiday (Davidsonville, Md.) is the lone goalkeeper.
"I think the biggest thing we have seen from our new players is improvement and quality," said Widdowson. "They have settled into the group very quickly which is always our first objective as it allows them to get comfortable and to play with confidence. The team chemistry is very good and we have seen that the new players will help us this year. Now we need to continue their growth by providing them with experience on the field and continual advice and learning opportunities."
SCHEDULE
Millersville has 18 total contests on its 2022 schedule, 12 in-conference and six non-conference. The group begins its non-conference schedule against PSAC West foe, Seton Hill on Thursday, Aug. 25 in Greensburg, Pa. at 3 p.m. . The Marauders are 4-0-1 against the Griffins since 2017 with their last win coming in 2021 by a score of 1-0. 'Ville's two non-conference matches that stand out outside of Seton Hill are against programs that qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2021, Wilmington (De.) and Molloy. Wilmington received votes in the United Soccer Coaches National Preseason Poll and was picked to finish atop the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC), while Molloy was picked to win the East Coast Conference (ECC). 'Ville will face both teams on the road, traveling to Wilmington (De.) on Wednesday, Aug. 31 at 4 p.m. and Molloy on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. . Both games figure to play a large role in regional rankings late in the fall. The Marauders' remaining non-conference games are against Ashland on Saturday, Aug. 27, at Chestnut Hill on Saturday, Sept. 3 and against Goldey-Beacom on Tuesday, Sept. 27.
The Marauders were picked as overwhelming favorites to win the PSAC East in 2022, receiving five of seven first-place votes in the preseason poll, with West Chester taking the remaining two. They'll face off with each Eastern division opponents twice throughout the year, splitting a home and away. The Marauders' will open their PSAC East schedule at Shepherd on Wednesday, September 7. 'Ville's toughest part of the conference schedule looks to be in the second half of September when they enter a three-game stretch that features a home match against defending PSAC East champions Lock Haven, before playing two road matches against East Stroudsburg and West Chester. The Marauders close their 2022 regular season schedule on Saturday, Oct. 29 at home against Bloomsburg.
OVERTIME RULE CHANGES
The 2022 season will be the first year using the 2022 / 2023 NCAA Soccer Rules Book. One of the most recognizable rule changes has to do with overtime periods. Overtime has been eliminated during all regular-season contests. If a regular-season contest is tied at the end of regulation (90 minutes), the game will be deemed complete and recorded as a tie.
Overtime will still be a factor in postseason contests, including conference tournament and NCAA tournament contests. If a postseason contest is tied at the end of regulation, two complete 10-minute periods will be played before advancing to penalty kicks if necessary.
Widdowson enters his 16th season at the helm of the 'Ville men's soccer program and currently ranks 18th among all active Division II coaches in winning percentage and 34th in career wins in the most recently released rankings. He has led the program to four PSAC Titles and made the PSAC Title game eight times in 15 seasons. The Sheffield, England native will look to do the same in 2022 and attempt to complete the first four-peat since East Stroudsburg won seven consecutive titles from 1997-2003.
Joining Widdowson are assistant coaches Kevin Wolfe and Darian McCauley, along with volunteer assistant coach, Danny DiPrima. Wolfe served as Widdowson's head assistant during the 2021 season and has plenty of experience in the PSAC, as he is a former all-region performer at Lock Haven. McCauley, a 2019 graduate of Millersville, was recently hired as a full-time assistant for both the men's and women's soccer programs and will split his duties between each. He is a former All-PSAC East First Team goalkeeper at Millersville and started 75 games for the Marauders over a four-year span, recording a program-high 24 shutouts and the second most wins in program history with 42. DiPrima is a former Division I soccer player at NC State in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and comes to Millersville after serving as an assistant coach at York College from 2018-2022.
RETURNERS
The Marauders' lost a handful of key players from the 2021 team including, Matteo Adiletta, Anthony Calamia and Nik Provazzo, who were vital parts of the team's overall success last season; However, Marauder fans will see several familiar faces heading into 2022.
Redshirt sophomore defender, Aaron Maynard returns after being named United Soccer Coaches Division II Third Team All-American, United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region First Team, All-PSAC East First Team and D2CCA All-Atlantic Region Second Team. Maynard was a staple on the Marauder back line, being one of two players to start all 23 games and leading the team in minutes played with over 2,000. Maynard is joined on the defensive end of the field by two returning starters, Mike Kreider and All-PSAC East Second Team selection, Jake Altimore. Goalkeeper Bobby Bosch is back as well -- Bosch ended last season as the PSAC leader in goals against average, while ranking third in shutouts per game. He held a 10-3-2 record, with the two ties resulting in Millersville advancing through PKs. Defenders, Ronnie Minges and Ronny Bantang also return to the black and gold in 2022.
In the midfield, Widdowson returns All-PSAC East Second Team selection, Bob Hennessey, who scored five goals and sent out five assists last season. The redshirt junior provided fireworks in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, sending in game-clinching PK's in both 'Ville matches. Devven Frey returns in the middle of the field as the group's primary center-midfielder, the sophomore started the final 12 games last season and scored two game-winning goals. Midfielders, Cody Scully and Christian Vorchheimer also return for their sophomore years.
Spencer Shortt, Matt Lynch and Richy Valverde all return on the front line for Millersville. Shortt, an All-PSAC Second Team selection, finished the 2021 season leading the team in both points (26) and assists (12), while tying for the team lead in goals (7), shots (63) and shots on goal (31). His 12 assists led the PSAC and ranked fifth in the nation. Lynch showed promising potential in 2021 and provided offense for Widdowson off the bench throughout the season. The redshirt sophomore finished the year with four goals and ranked third on the team in both shots (51) and shots on goal (25). Valverde saw an increase of minutes towards the end of last season and took full advantage, scoring two of his three goals in the postseason, one coming against Mercyhurst in the PSAC Semifinal and one against Charleston (W. Va.) in the NCAA Quarterfinal.
In total, Millersville returns 13 players from the 2021 roster.
NEWCOMERS
The 2022 roster also includes nine new faces that will figure to play a role this season. Of the nine players there are five midfielders, two forwards, one defender and a goalkeeper.
The midfielders include, Christian Bowles (Reading, Pa.), Fallou Cisse (Shrewbury, Pa.), Brendan Corpus (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.), Colin Coffield (New Tripoli, Pa.), and Sasha Rabala (Nairobi, Kenya).
The forwards include Peter Chol (Lancaster, Pa.) and Zander Leik (Dallastown, Pa.).
Gage Meckley (Lititz, Pa.) is the lone defender and Travis Holiday (Davidsonville, Md.) is the lone goalkeeper.
"I think the biggest thing we have seen from our new players is improvement and quality," said Widdowson. "They have settled into the group very quickly which is always our first objective as it allows them to get comfortable and to play with confidence. The team chemistry is very good and we have seen that the new players will help us this year. Now we need to continue their growth by providing them with experience on the field and continual advice and learning opportunities."
SCHEDULE
Millersville has 18 total contests on its 2022 schedule, 12 in-conference and six non-conference. The group begins its non-conference schedule against PSAC West foe, Seton Hill on Thursday, Aug. 25 in Greensburg, Pa. at 3 p.m. . The Marauders are 4-0-1 against the Griffins since 2017 with their last win coming in 2021 by a score of 1-0. 'Ville's two non-conference matches that stand out outside of Seton Hill are against programs that qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2021, Wilmington (De.) and Molloy. Wilmington received votes in the United Soccer Coaches National Preseason Poll and was picked to finish atop the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC), while Molloy was picked to win the East Coast Conference (ECC). 'Ville will face both teams on the road, traveling to Wilmington (De.) on Wednesday, Aug. 31 at 4 p.m. and Molloy on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. . Both games figure to play a large role in regional rankings late in the fall. The Marauders' remaining non-conference games are against Ashland on Saturday, Aug. 27, at Chestnut Hill on Saturday, Sept. 3 and against Goldey-Beacom on Tuesday, Sept. 27.
The Marauders were picked as overwhelming favorites to win the PSAC East in 2022, receiving five of seven first-place votes in the preseason poll, with West Chester taking the remaining two. They'll face off with each Eastern division opponents twice throughout the year, splitting a home and away. The Marauders' will open their PSAC East schedule at Shepherd on Wednesday, September 7. 'Ville's toughest part of the conference schedule looks to be in the second half of September when they enter a three-game stretch that features a home match against defending PSAC East champions Lock Haven, before playing two road matches against East Stroudsburg and West Chester. The Marauders close their 2022 regular season schedule on Saturday, Oct. 29 at home against Bloomsburg.
OVERTIME RULE CHANGES
The 2022 season will be the first year using the 2022 / 2023 NCAA Soccer Rules Book. One of the most recognizable rule changes has to do with overtime periods. Overtime has been eliminated during all regular-season contests. If a regular-season contest is tied at the end of regulation (90 minutes), the game will be deemed complete and recorded as a tie.
Overtime will still be a factor in postseason contests, including conference tournament and NCAA tournament contests. If a postseason contest is tied at the end of regulation, two complete 10-minute periods will be played before advancing to penalty kicks if necessary.
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Saturday, October 18
Saturday, September 20
