Boston College Athletics
Competition, Depth Spurring Optimism
August 20, 2017 | Men's Soccer
As the Eagles prepare to open the 2017 slate, there's a positive vibe coming from Newton Campus
Standing on the soccer field at Newton Campus, Boston College men's soccer coach Ed Kelly couldn't help but smile. His team's preseason was barely a week old, but there was a confidence and easy flow that made him feel both happy and confident.
"As a group, this is one of the stronger groups we've had in a while," he said. "We have classes that have been to the Elite Eight and we have classes that competed with the toughest strength of schedule in the country last year. We've already had improvement in our freshmen class. Everybody is a good group, and these guys are just getting better."
It creates an excitement enveloping the Eagles as they prepare to open the 2017 season this week.
Though their record dipped to 9-9-3 last season, BC qualified for its second consecutive national tournament. Playing among some of the best and most competitive programs in the country, it's a bar they hope continues to reset as they begin the hunt to return to prominence.
There is a requisite conversation about what BC lost since the Eagles return none of their leading goal scorers. Zeiko Lewis won Eagle of the Year honors at the Golden Eagle Awards after scoring seven goals and five assists. After signing with Major League Soccer, the New York Red Bulls drafted him 17th overall in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. Now allocated to their second squad in the United Soccer League, he's begun a journey to join former Eagle legends like Alejandro Bedoya and Charlie Davies in the nation's top pro league.
The team's other leading scorer, Maximilian Schulze-Geisthovel, scored seven goals in 19 games in 2016. But he's now a member of the football team, having graduated from a soccer career that brought him to BC after three years at St. Leo's.
But even with their losses, the Eagles are becoming a more complete, well-rounded team.
BC has three returning goal scorers in Simon Enstrom, Callum Johnson and Trevor Davock. They have an emerging midfield led by captain Henry Balf, and they have a catalyst defense anchored by Len Zeugner. Zeugner is the another BC captain, returning after an injury robbed his entire 2016 season.
"We bring in players who can play," Kelly said. "Zeiko, for example, was just one player. He was a very good player, and he went on a very good run. But we would have to get the ball to Zeiko to make the offense work. We didn't have Len last year, and he might be one of the top kids in the ACC and the country. He helps start things from the back.
"We've had great players here before that left with Bedoya, with Charlie Davies, and now with Zeiko," Kelly continued. "Everyone just finds their own way."
"This has probably been the best opening to a preseason since I've been here," Balf said. "I think our expectations are really high. We have a really solid group back to front with a really good team."
Part of what makes the Eagles so competitive is their ability to blend individual styles of soccer. Each player is recruited to bring something different to the roster, and it creates an atmosphere of competition and teamwork. Players feed off one another while at the same time competing for playing time.
"This is a small enough group, but we're going to have some good players on the bench," Kelly said. "That's going to make this group that much better. The competition for sports has been more than normal. We've had some quality players sitting out, so when they get on the field, it's going to spice things up a bit."
"I think the easiest part is that we have a good core group of guys," Balf said. "We have a small class coming in with only six guys as freshmen, so they don't need to do too much. They have to feel it out and find their way. They'll mix their way into the lineup, but at the same time, we're all still a team."
A team that's ready to take the field and get 2017 going on Friday.
"As a group, this is one of the stronger groups we've had in a while," he said. "We have classes that have been to the Elite Eight and we have classes that competed with the toughest strength of schedule in the country last year. We've already had improvement in our freshmen class. Everybody is a good group, and these guys are just getting better."
It creates an excitement enveloping the Eagles as they prepare to open the 2017 season this week.
Though their record dipped to 9-9-3 last season, BC qualified for its second consecutive national tournament. Playing among some of the best and most competitive programs in the country, it's a bar they hope continues to reset as they begin the hunt to return to prominence.
There is a requisite conversation about what BC lost since the Eagles return none of their leading goal scorers. Zeiko Lewis won Eagle of the Year honors at the Golden Eagle Awards after scoring seven goals and five assists. After signing with Major League Soccer, the New York Red Bulls drafted him 17th overall in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. Now allocated to their second squad in the United Soccer League, he's begun a journey to join former Eagle legends like Alejandro Bedoya and Charlie Davies in the nation's top pro league.
The team's other leading scorer, Maximilian Schulze-Geisthovel, scored seven goals in 19 games in 2016. But he's now a member of the football team, having graduated from a soccer career that brought him to BC after three years at St. Leo's.
But even with their losses, the Eagles are becoming a more complete, well-rounded team.
BC has three returning goal scorers in Simon Enstrom, Callum Johnson and Trevor Davock. They have an emerging midfield led by captain Henry Balf, and they have a catalyst defense anchored by Len Zeugner. Zeugner is the another BC captain, returning after an injury robbed his entire 2016 season.
"We bring in players who can play," Kelly said. "Zeiko, for example, was just one player. He was a very good player, and he went on a very good run. But we would have to get the ball to Zeiko to make the offense work. We didn't have Len last year, and he might be one of the top kids in the ACC and the country. He helps start things from the back.
"We've had great players here before that left with Bedoya, with Charlie Davies, and now with Zeiko," Kelly continued. "Everyone just finds their own way."
"This has probably been the best opening to a preseason since I've been here," Balf said. "I think our expectations are really high. We have a really solid group back to front with a really good team."
Part of what makes the Eagles so competitive is their ability to blend individual styles of soccer. Each player is recruited to bring something different to the roster, and it creates an atmosphere of competition and teamwork. Players feed off one another while at the same time competing for playing time.
"This is a small enough group, but we're going to have some good players on the bench," Kelly said. "That's going to make this group that much better. The competition for sports has been more than normal. We've had some quality players sitting out, so when they get on the field, it's going to spice things up a bit."
"I think the easiest part is that we have a good core group of guys," Balf said. "We have a small class coming in with only six guys as freshmen, so they don't need to do too much. They have to feel it out and find their way. They'll mix their way into the lineup, but at the same time, we're all still a team."
A team that's ready to take the field and get 2017 going on Friday.
Players Mentioned
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