Boston College Athletics
Men's Soccer has High Hopes for 1998
June 21, 1999 | Men's Soccer
August 21, 1998
Head coach Ed Kelly is eagerly awaiting the start of the 1998 season. With great expectations for his returnees and his newcomers, Kelly believes Boston College has the opportunity to make great improvements from last season. In fact, the Eagles hope to contend for their sixth consecutive berth in the BIG EAST Tournament.
"I believe that we will be a strong and balanced team this year," Kelly said. "We were very young last year, so we have added some transfers in hopes of gaining more maturity and depth."
Kelly is convinced he met many of his team's needs with this recruiting class. He and his staff set out to add attacking players and flank players -- and they did just that. The Eagles will welcome three Norwegians -- freshman forward Eyvind Aasen and sophomore midfielders Sjur Gundersen and Knut Espen Skaug -- all of whom meet the "attacking" need. Gundersen, along with newcomers Chris Cleary and Danny Horan, will add an outside presence.
"I'm very happy with the players we've added to our program," Kelly said. "They all have the potential to start for us, and they should have a significant impact on our point total."
While the newcomers will add spark to the offensive play, Kelly will rely on experience, stability and leadership from the defense. Sophomore goalkeeper Chris Hamblin and four defenders who started last season return after limiting opponents to just more than one goal per game.
"We had a very good spring, during which the young players got a lot of playing time," Kelly said. "We think that this could be a very good year."
A strong defense and solid offensive attack should provide the boost that is needed for the Eagles to compete for the BIG EAST Conference crown. Leadership and cohesiveness will also be key factors for this balanced team.
"So much is going to depend on how well the new players mesh with the returning players," Kelly said. "How fast the team comes together will determine how competitive we'll be."
GOALKEEPER
Hamblin will again be Kelly's man in net. Starting 15 of 16 games as a freshman, Hamblin gained the experience he needed to develop into a solid all-around goalkeeper. In 1440 minutes last fall, he recorded 72 saves and a 1.00 goals against average.
Hamblin, who hails from Bristol, England, joined the Eagles as a freshman last season after spending five years at St. Mary Redcliffe Temple. There he led SMRT to two Gloucester Youth Cup titles, recording a 14-3-1 record in those two seasons.
"It is a very big adjustment coming from England, but Chris has settled in very well academically and socially," the head coach said. "He got great experience last year and has a very good goaltending coach. Chris is a quality goalkeeper and will do just fine for us."
Kelly has two competent keepers to serve as backups to Hamblin. Senior Mike Babst and sophomore John O'Halloran will add depth to the goalie position.
DEFENSE
With four returning starters, Kelly is excited about the prospects for his defense this fall. Juniors Paul Cornoni and Andrew Stein and sophomores Paul Bourke and Martin Cantillo will anchor the Eagles' back line. Cornoni and Burke both proved to be models of consistency last fall, starting all 16 matches.
Stein also made an impact last season, playing in 13 matches. He missed three matches because of an injury to his right knee, but Kelly is confident that he will be playing at full strength when the 1998 season starts.
Cantillo played in 14 matches last fall, starting 10. He made steady progress throughout his first season, and should be a bigger factor this year.
To bolster the defense Kelly may move senior team captain Keith McDonald from his midfield position to a defensive spot. McDonald's leadership and talent would give the defense another boost and add strength to an already deep position.
Kelly also expects production from sophomore transfer Joshua Goodman. Goodman comes to the Heights from Bentley College where he played in and started 17 matches last fall. From his defensive position, Goodman contributed one goal and one assist.
MIDFIELD
The Eagles' midfield unit returns two regulars. McDonald is back to command the central midfield, while senior Chris Lynch returns on the right side.
Kelly expects McDonald, already a three-year stalwart, to complete his collegiate career with his best all-around soccer. The Holliston, Mass. native will be asked to add offensive power while tightly marking opponents at the other end of the field. Last fall, McDonald started all 16 matches and finished second on the team in scoring.
Lynch will play a major role in the team's success. He played in 14 matches last fall, making seven starts. Kelly expects he'll be a team leader this season.
The influx of talented newcomers also gives the coach some options. Two freshmen -- Cleary and Roy Beverage -- and three transfers -- Epsen Skaug, Gunderson and Horan -- promise to make the Eagles' offense more dangerous than a year ago. Freshman Bryan Rose will be counted on to add depth in the midfield. Kelly believes each of the newcomers has the ability to create offensive chances and to "finish."
FORWARD
Sophomore Kevin Boyd is the Eagles' top returnee up front. Boyd made an immediate impact on the program last fall. He proved to be a gifted goal scorer, leading the team with five goals. This year he is expected to build on his first-year promise and provide the Eagles with a dangerous offensive force.
Classmates Brian Mollo and John McCann are also expected to contribute at the offensive end. Mollo played in 14 matches last fall, starting 12. McCann saw action in 10 matches, making three starts. Both will have the chance to make their mark this year.
Among the newcomers, freshmen Aasen and Cleary are individuals who Kelly believes can make an immediate impact.
