ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Roberts Wesleyan College men's soccer team opens its season at 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25 against the University of Findlay at Redhawks Stadium.
The Redhawks are coming off an 8-7-3 season that saw them advance to the Midwest Region Final of the National Christian College Athletic Association Tournament.
Scott Reber, who is entering his eighth season as head coach at his alma mater, says staying healthy, having team members accept and understand their roles and maintaining the proper mentality will be keys this season.
"I am cautiously optimistic," Reber said. "We need to continue to play to our standard. If we play to our standard, the wins and losses will take care of themselves."
Here are five things to know about the Redhawks this season:
PLENTY OF MOTIVATION
Roberts had a 6-4-1 record and was 3-1-1 in the East Coast Conference and appeared well on its way to securing a postseason berth heading into a home match against D'Youville last Oct. 23.
The teams battled to a scoreless tie, beginning an 0-1-2 stretch in ECC play for Roberts that eventually kept the Redhawks out of the ECC Tournament.
"The guys have been champing at the bit because of the way we finished last season," Reber said.
That disappointment has been used as fuel for this season.
"It has definitely been a motivating factor for us throughout the off-season and preseason," co-captain
Marc-Anthony Blackburn, a graduate student who plays midfield, said. "I think the group of guys that is returning realize that we have some unfinished business."
"Last season is definitely driving us," said senior forward
Dylan Ruiz. "We don't want to leave anything on the table."
Roberts was picked to finish fifth in the ECC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The top four teams in the regular season qualify for the conference tournament.
BUSY START
Roberts will play six matches in 17 days leading up to its East Coast Conference opener on Sept. 10 against defending ECC regular-season champion Saint Thomas Aquinas College.
"It's going to be a huge test," Reber said. "We go from zero to 100 miles per hour. You are going to see a lot of faces on the field early in the season."
Other highlights include home matches against Queen College for Homecoming on Sept. 24 and a matchup against ECC Tournament champion Molloy University on Oct. 15.
"Those games are just a battle," Reber said of ECC contests. "It doesn't really matter who you play because everyone is good."
EXPERIENCE ABOUNDS
Roberts returns 15 players, including nine seniors and two graduate students from its 2021 club.
The group includes six of the top eight scorers from last season.
Ruiz (17 goals, 6 assists in 2021) leads the way and was voted the ECC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year for the second straight year. He is also Roberts' career leader with 50 goals.
Nathan Ferguson (3 goals, 2 assists),
Tamas Nagy (2 goals, 4 assists),
Justin Robertson (1 goal, 4 assists),
Alex Perez Vega (2 goals) and
Ollie Ardle (3 assists) all return.
Blackburn provides a steady presence in the midfield along with
Hunter Salisbury and Ardle.
Papouche Schmoyer also returns after missing last season.
Perez Vega,
Josh DaSilva,
Robert Hinds and
Pau Guillem Marzal add experience along the backline.
INFLUX OF TALENT
Roberts will also be bolstered by the addition of nine players to the roster who will be looking to establish their roles.
The newcomers include:
Freshmen: Dylan Baker,
Micah Cornfield,
Luke Hanes,
Dwayne Lewis and
Julian Silva.
Sophomores: Benjamin Lazcano Barros and
Rodrigo Torrellio.
Juniors: Joshua Jones and
Luis Cataldi Milan.
TRIO OF KEEPERS
The Redhawks also have experience in goal as all three keepers from last season's squad return.
Senior
Jared Gibbons recorded 14 starts in 2021, finishing with 54 saves and a 1.30 goals-against average. Sophomore
Caleb DaSilva started four contests and compiled a 1.49 GAA while making 25 saves and senior
Andrew Putnam had a strong preseason.
Â
