Boston College Athletics
Men's Soccer Gears Up For 2004 Season
August 10, 2004 | Men's Soccer
Aug. 10, 2004
With 10 returning lettermen and one of the largest, most diverse freshman classes in school history, Boston College should display a balanced attack in 2004. The Eagles missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years as a result of their 6-7-4 record and will look to pair their superior defense with a rejuvenated offense in order to get back to their Elite Eight form of 2002. The Eagles return veterans with a host of soccer experience and exceptional leadership abilities. Guy Melamed, Bill Arnault and Pat Haggerty - this year's tri-captains - were described by head coach Ed Kelly as "three of the finest kids to ever set foot on this campus. I couldn't ask for better leadership." Melamed, the 2004 BIG EAST Preseason Defender of the Year, was an All-BIG EAST first-team selection for the second consecutive season in 2003 and has been one of the conference's best defensive players since his freshman year. The Israeli national team member was selected to the 2002 All-America third-team and his defensive performance last season was the chief reason the Eagles surrendered a BIG EAST-low 14 goals. Arnault, who garnered All-Conference honors for the third consecutive season in 2003 with his selection to the All-BIG EAST second team, performed at an incredible level despite being hampered by a groin injury all season. Haggerty is described by Kelly as one of the fiercest competitors on the team and someone who leaves it all on the field every day. The Eagles will look to the experience of their returning leaders, as well as the burgeoning potential of their young players, to advance them well into the postseason. Kelly and assistant coaches Ian Hennessy and Dusan Obsajsnik have a plethora of returning players that will help the Eagles. Sophomore Jarryd Goldberg saw action in all 17 games in his freshman campaign and was second on the team in scoring with five points. Goldberg earned BIG EAST Co-Rookie of the Week honors once last season. Classmate Jamen Amato was second on the team with two goals and one assist to match Goldberg's five points. Amato, who also played every match as a freshman, should continue to flourish while playing in the same backfield as Melamed. Kelly, the 2002 Soccer America National Coach of the Year, has tailored his offensive attack to take advantage of the speed that arrived with this year's freshman class. The Eagles will rely on forwards Charlie Davies, a member of the U.S. Under-20 national team, and Sherron Manswell, one of the team's fastest players, to put constant pressure on opposing defenses. With seven players who have represented their countries in international play, the Eagles have a team of young players who are rich with big-game experience. With at least five freshmen who will battle for starting positions, Kelly is confident this team can make some noise in November: "We have to get back to the NCAA Tournament and then take it one step at a time. I believe this team has the ability to go deep." In Goal The Eagles must find a way to replace goalkeeper Mike Cardenas, whose .852 save percentage led the conference and 0.81 goals against average ranked third. Cardenas was twice selected Big East Goalkeeper of the Week in 2003, and his seven shutouts during the year rank him sixth in the school's single-season record book. Sophomore Issey Maholo, the only keeper on the squad with any collegiate game experience, registered a shutout in one of his two appearances last season, notching four saves in a 1-0 victory over Ohio State. Classmate Sean Pramov did not appear in a game last year. Maholo will compete for the starting position with freshman Chris Brown, a 6-foot-5-inch standout who earned Virginia Independent Schools Soccer Association All-State first-team honors in his junior and senior seasons. Brown's size and athleticism make him a prime candidate for the vacant goalkeeper position. Brown's older brother, Adin, is currently a goalkeeper for the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer. Kelly describes Brown as a "fantastic athlete who has the confidence to go with it." Kelly is also excited about freshman Shane Boggis, a local product from the Brooks School. The 6-foot-3-inch newcomer also played basketball in high school and will compete for playing time. In the Back The strength of the 2004 team lies in its backfield. The loss of captain Paul Chase puts a hole at the sweeper position, but the Eagles certainly have the manpower to fill that void and continue their exceptional play from last season. "We expect our defense to be even better than last season," Kelly said. Leading the impressive crop of backs are captains Guy Melamed and Pat Haggerty. Melamed was an All-BIG EAST first-team selection last season and has proven masterful at one-on-one defense. Haggerty's aggressive play and incredible work ethic have earned him his role as team leader. Sophomore Sam Brill played in 15 games during his freshman campaign and Kelly calls him "a good player who can play in the air and is an excellent reader of the game." Fellow classmates Jamen Amato and Richard Gavilanes saw action in all 17 games last season and were two of the Eagles' more productive players. Amato, a converted midfielder who was second on the team with five points last year, will continue to utilize his skills out of the backfield. "Jamen played out of the back in the spring season," Kelly said. "He's strong, can get up in the air and can attack from that position." Junior Brendon Ferullo contributed one goal and one assist to go along with his defensive efforts and is expected to compete for time in both the backfield and midfield this season. Mario Nicholas saw action in only two games during his sophomore year, but could see himself in a few more contests in 2004. With almost all of the backfield returning, Kelly has many options and a great deal of versatility with his current personnel. Freshman Lennie McMillian is one of the team's better athletes and represented Ireland in international basketball competition. McMillian could see action in the midfield as well as in the back. Sean Leavitt joins McMillian as a freshman back. Midfielders The leader of this group is undeniably three-time All-BIG EAST selection, Bill Arnault. The senior midfielder has played in all but one game in his Boston College career and has been one of the team's most consistent players over the past three seasons. Arnault did not find the goal in 2003, as he struggled with a groin injury all season. His control of the game, however, was never questioned and Kelly praises Arnault's work ethic and leadership abilities. Joining Arnault as a leader in the midfield is sophomore Jarryd Goldberg. The speedy Goldberg had a successful freshman campaign, tallying one goal and three assists. Kelly believes Goldberg's experiences last season will help him increase his production, as he has adapted to the physical play of Division I soccer. "Jarryd is a skillful player who has matured mentally," Kelly said. "The jump to this level has always been tougher for smaller guys, but Jarryd competes because of his mental toughness." None of the other midfielders have any game experience, and Kelly is hoping they can learn some things from the two returning veterans. Freshman Johann Helgason, who Kelly describes as a "skillful player," has represented Iceland in international competition and will challenge for a starting spot right away. Sophomore Chris Hadfield will add some depth to the midfield, as will freshmen Brian Wall and Satoshi Mitsuda. Sophomore Santiago Bunce will also be playing his first year for the Eagles. At Forward Kelly is quietly confident that his young players can make the Boston College offense a force to be reckoned with. Junior Uri Magen-David, the only forward with experience, will compete for a starting position. Kelly is excited at the prospects of freshman Charlie Davies being a staple at the forward position for years to come. Davies, who is expected to start right away, earned Parade Magazine, EA Sports and NSCAA/adidas High School All-America honors as a senior at the Brooks School. Davies scored 101 goals in his high school career. Kelly is also enthused about Trinidad native Sherron Manswell, another freshman speedster who is expected to start. Ahmed Talaat, who has international experience with the Egyptian national team, is another new face at the forward position and will also compete for minutes right away. In Summary With their first two opponents fresh off NCAA Tournament berths, the Eagles have to be ready to play from the first game on. The team opens up at home against Brown, which played the Eagles to a 0-0 tie in last year's season finale in Providence. The Bears are the first of nine opponents on the schedule that played in the NCAA Tournament in 2003. "The Big East is a tough conference," Kelly said. "We don't have one easy game all year." The Eagles will also face St. John's during the Big East portion of their schedule. The Red Storm is always a formidable foe and last year defeated Boston College 2-0 before going on to play in the NCAA title game. Ed Kelly and staff expect an exciting year from the young team. With a lot of new blood joining a group of savvy veterans, the Eagles hope to find their way back to the NCAA Tournament come November.
