2015 Men's Soccer Preview
DEFIANCE, OHIO – The Defiance College men’s soccer team looks to improve their overall record from last year as Head Coach Jordan Valentine begins his first year at the helm.
DEFIANCE, OHIO – The Defiance College men's soccer team looks to improve their overall record from last year as Head Coach Jordan Valentine begins his first year at the helm.
Last year, Defiance finished with a 5-13-2 overall record and ended the season in seventh place in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference with a 3-5-1 record. The 2015 season will see the Yellow Jackets sport a balanced roster with youth and experience with thirteen returning players, including four seniors: defender Courtney Lyn-Kew (West Palm Beach Fla./Royal Palm Beach), midfielder Jayson Long (Columbus/Thomas Worthington), midfielder Jordan Drake (Maumee/Springfield), and defender Blayne Robbins (Galva, Ill./Miamisburg).
"The team and coaching staff are very excited to start the season and prove a lot of doubters wrong," said Valentine. "The atmosphere and competitive spirit among the team is fantastic. We have been working hard during preseason camp and we have achieved a lot during a short period of time as we have laid solid foundations to build on for the coming season."
DEFENSE
DC will sport an experienced backfield as the Yellow Jackets will return all but one player from last season's roster. As a unit, DC allowed 1.65 goals per game and posted a pair of shutout victories.
In 2015, DC will bring back four starters in Lyn-Kew, Robbins and sophomores Nick Kleptz (Troy) and Trevor Hester (Liberty Center/Monclova Christian) to anchor the Yellow Jackets defense. Lyn-Kew appeared in all 20 games last season with two shots on goal. Robbins had a breakout season as a junior playing in 18 games and scored one goal on two shots. Following the season, he garnered second-team All-HCAC accolades. Robbins also went on to earn third-team All-Ohio honors. In his first season with the program, Kleptz played in 19 games and started 17. He led the Yellow Jackets with five goals on 18 shots (.278 shot percentage) for a team-best 10 points. Two of his five goals were game-winners and he also converted his only penalty kick opportunity during the season. Kleptz capped his "rookie" season with a honorable mention All-HCAC award. Hester also played in 19 games during his inaugural season and started 16. He took two shots, but did not record any offensive statistics as a defender.
Joining the defensive starters will be junior Jacob Boles (Holton, Ind./South Ripley) and sophomore Adam Currier (Sterling Heights, Mich./Stevenson). Boles played in one varsity game last fall and Currier was a member of the junior varsity team. Both players could battle for playing time and provide depth this fall.
MIDFIELDERS
The midfielders will feature the second most returning players led by Long and Drake. Long appeared in 17 games, with three starts, and scored one goal on four shots (.250 shot percentage). He also added an assist for three total points. Drake played in all 20 games last season and started nine. Drake had four shots on goal, and eleven shots overall. He assisted on one goal during the season for one point.
Another players to watch at the midfielder position will be junior Brian Kurtz (Sandusky/Perkins) and sophomore Mark Williams (Plain City/Johathon Alder). As a sophomore, Kurtz started four of the 20 games he played and ended the season with a goal scored for two points. His only goal was also a game-winner to rank in a tie for second on the team in that statistical category. Williams saw significant playing time in his first season playing in all 20 games and starting 12. Offensively, he tallied one assist for one point.
Also making their return will be junior Mike Smith (Cortland/Maplewood) along with sophomore Sean Daley (Lima/Lima Central Catholic). The duo both played in one varsity game last season. Smith took one shot during the season, but neither player recorded any points statistically.
FORWARDS
The Yellow Jackets will feature a young forward crew, with no players with varsity playing experience last season. These forwards are eager to take on the season and show off thier abilities. Listed at the forward position will be sophomore Christian Meister (Ontario) and freshmen Adam Ordel (Lima/Elida) and Henok Jones (Georgetown, Ind./Floyd Central).
GOALKEEPERS
The Yellow Jackets return the primary netminder from last season in junior Damian Koester (Englewood/Brookville). Last fall, he started in 17 of the 20 games and played 1503:05 minutes in net. Koester recorded four victories, including a pair of shutouts, and made 71 saves with a .724 save percentage. He allowed 27 goals for the year to finish with a 1.62 goals against average. His 71 saves last season ranked fourth most in the HCAC and his 1.62 g.a.a. was seventh best.
The Yellow Jackets also recruited two young goalkeepers eager for some net time in freshmen Bryce Bartolotto (Amherst/Firelands) and Clay Musgrave (Upper Sandusky).
Defiance will open the 2015 season in home territory when they take on Trine (Ind.)University Tuesday, Sept. 1 in non-conference play. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at the Winsper-Knobel Memorial Field. DC will then host the annual Purple & Gold Classic beginning on Friday, Sept. 4 at 4 p.m.. The Yellow Jackets will take on The College of Wooster on Friday at 5 p.m. and will then host Saint Vincent (Pa.) College on Sunday (Sept. 6) at 1 p.m.
"This year, we are implementing a playing style and creating an identity," added Valentine. "Each player has been very receptive to the new ideas and have quickly adapted and applied the information right away. The program has been very close in the past but this group of players are all determined to break into one of the top four spots in the HCAC and compete in the post-season tournament."