2014: Men's Soccer Preview

DEFIANCE, OHIO – The Defiance College men's soccer team continues to improve as the Yellow Jackets have increased their win total each season since current Head Coach Alex Van der Sluijs took over the program in 2010.

Last year, Defiance finished with a 10-9 overall record and ended the season in the middle of the pack in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference with a 5-4 mark.  The 2014 season will see the Yellow Jackets sport a balanced roster with youth and experience with 16 returning players, including four seniors in forwards Ashten Forde (Euclid), Robert Tanya (New York, N.Y./Frederick Douglass), midfielder Drew Metz (Northwood/Lake) and defender Ian Fasnacht (Strongsville/Padua Franciscan).

DEFENSE 

Fasnacht will anchor the Yellow Jacket defense as a senior following a season that saw him play in 14 games and started 13.  He was part of a defensive squad that allowed 1.39 goals per game and posted five shutout victories.  Fasnacht also got involved offensively scoring a pair of goals to end his junior campaign with four points finishing fifth on the team.  Joining Fasnacht on defense will be junior Blayne Robins (Galva, Ill./Miamisburg).  Robbins started 17 of 18 games last fall and scored one goal on five shots for two points and a .200 shot percentage.  At the end of 2013 campaign, Robbins was named to the HCAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

Also returning this fall is sophomore Trevor Hester (Liberty Center/Mondova Christian).  Hester saw playing time in 10 games as a freshman and made seven starts.  He took one shot during the season, but did not record any other offensive statistics.  Boles will look to compete for playing time in 2014 as he spent all of last season as a member of the junior varsity team. 

MIDFIELDER

The midfielders will feature a host of returning players led by Metz who earned honorable mention All-HCAC accolades a year ago following a season in which he played in all 19 games and started all but one.  He led the team and finished fourth in the conference in assists with six.  He was also second on the team in goals scored with four to end the year with 14 total points, finishing second overall in scoring for the Jackets.  Metz was also second on the team in shots with 33 and had a .121 shot percentage for the year.    

Joining Metz will be junior Jayson Long (Columbus/Thomas Worthington) and sophomores Victor Trifiro (Akron/Walsh Jesuit), Brian Kurtz (Sandusky/Perkins) and Michael Smith (Cortland/Maplewood).  Long started eight of 17 games and took 13 shots, but did not record any additional offensive stats.  Trifiro and Kurtz both saw significant playing time in their first seasons with the program playing in all 19 games.  Kurtz started 12 of the 19 games with nine shots during the season and found the back of the net once for two points on the year.  Trifiro started seven games and also scored a goal for two points.  Smith played in one varsity game and did not have any statistics offensively.

FORWARD

Defiance brings back a solid group of players led by Forde as a senior leader at the forward position.  Forde started 17 of 19 games a year ago and finished third on the team in goals with three, including two game-winners, for six points.  He tallied 16 shots to end the year with a .188 shot percentage.

In addition to Forde, Robert Tanya, junior Jordan Drake (Maumee/Springfield) and sophomore Michael Hall (Berea/Strongsville).  Tanya appeared in six games in a backup role and scored one goal on three shots for two points.  Drake started all but one game last season and scored four assists in addition to a goal for six points.  His four helpers were second highest on the team and his lone goal came on a penalty kick.  Hall saw time in 17 games coming off the bench and posted one goal on three shots during the season.

GOALKEEPERS

The Yellow Jackets will look to replace first-team All-HCAC and Conference Co-Defensive Most Valuable Player Sean Roberts who graduated last spring.  Roberts was the primary netminder last season, but Defiance will return sophomore Damian Koester (Englewood/Brookville).  Koester was the only player to see playing time at the varsity level last fall playing in one game allowing no goals and did not record a save.

DC will open the season with the Purple and Gold Classic on Friday, August 29 and Monday, Sept. 1.  The Yellow Jackets will take on Waynesburg (Pa.) University on Friday in the season opener at Winsper-Knobel Memorial Field.  Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m.