2007 Outlook

Walsh University Men’s Soccer Outlook

Walsh continued its winning ways last year, finishing 11-6-1 overall and 4-3-1 in the American Mideast Conference South Division. The Cavs made their third straight playoff appearance and won 11 games for the second straight season. In 2007, veteran Head Coach Tim Mead (272-187-29, 25 yrs.) hopes to continue the improvement shown the last two years and get over the hump in the AMC South. Walsh finished fourth last year, and tied for fourth in 2005. A climb in the standings for the Cavs in the powerful South Division will result in being among the elite in the AMC and NAIA.

The Cavs’ defense was one of the stingiest in the AMC last year, allowing only 0.99 goals per game. One of the reasons was returning veteran, and First Team All-AMC South and NAIA Region IX goalkeeper Ben Pflum (6-0, 195, Jr., Napoleon, OH/HS). Pflum fashioned a 1.00 goals against average, with eight shutouts. Pflum did all of this in his first year between the pipes. Pflum will only get better. Senior Chad Ostrowski (5-10,190, North Canton, OH/Hoover) and Andrew Baloun (5-10, 170., Fr., Amherst, OH/HS) will provide depth. Walsh will play a 4-4-2 in front of Pflum.

Four veterans will be in the back. Adam Birtcher (6-0, 170, Jr., Napoleon, OH/HS) will be at right outside back. Birtcher lettered last year and played in 17 games. Veteran Dan Harlan (6-3, 205, Jr., Uniontown, OH/Green) is slated to start at one centerback, with Aaron Davis (5-10, 150, So., Blackburn, ENG/Darwen Vale) at the other. Jason Lindesmith (5-8,155, Sr., Canton, OH/Central Catholic) will start at outside left back. Harlan played in 16 games last year, while Davis scored three goals in 14 games. Lindesmith saw action in 13 games. Freshman Matt Charek (5-11, 170, Fr., Green, OH/HS) will provide depth at centerback. Charek was a Second Team All-Suburban League choice. Veteran Nick Oles (6-0, 175, Jr., Poland, OH/Cardinal Mooney) and freshman Kyle Reese (6-1, 165, Canfield, OH/HS) will supply depth at outside right back. Oles played in six games last year. Reese earned First Team All-State honors and was named Northeast District Player of the Year. Senior Carlo Cammilletti (6-1, 175, Wintersville, OH/Central Catholic) will back-up Harlan, with freshmen Todd Janiga (5-8, 150, Barberton, OH/HS) and Rick VanDorsten (5-10, 165, Canton, OH/GlenOak) supplying depth at centerback and outside left back. VanDorsten was First Team All-Federal League, All-County and All-District.

Walsh returns two double-digit scorers from last year; forward Casey Eck (6-1, 185, Jr., North Canton, OH/Hoover) and outside left-back Alex Birtcher (6-0, 160, Jr., Napoleon, OH/HS). Eck led the Cavs with ten goals and 23 points, and was named Second Team All-AMC South. Birtcher was fourth in scoring with 12 points, on four goals and four assists. These two will be counted on heavily, with the departure of Ryan Inama (6 goals, seven assists) and Leon O’Neill (seven goals, four assists).

Starting at the forward opposite Eck is freshman Lamar Skeeter (5-10, 175, Dayton, OH/Fairmont). Veterans Jeremy Hess (6-3, 200, Sr., Damascus, MD/St. Johns) and Corey Dekker (6-1, 165, Jr., Mansfield, OH/Lexington) will see action and push the starters. Hess played in 17 games last year and scored two goals with an assist, while Dekker played in four games. Also in the mix is Dan Sheppard (5-11, 175, Jr., Tallmadge, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary), who played in eight games. Mead has plenty of depth at forward. Even though Hess and Dekker are listed as reserves on the depth chart, both will provide valuable leadership for the Cavs.

The outside and center mids have a fine mixture of talented veterans and promising newcomers. Greg Keller (6-0, 160., Sr., Napoleon, OH/HS) will start on the outside on the right. Keller played in 17 games last year and dished out five assists. Adam Brately (6-2, 160, So., North Canton, OH/St. Thomas Aquinas) and Ben Roth (6-0, 150., So., New Philadelphia, OH/HS) will supply depth and push the veterans. Providing depth behind Alex Birtcher on the left side will be freshmen Ben Latimer (5-11, 150, Sunbury, OH/Big Walnut) and Alex Morgart (5-10, 150, Atwater, OH/Waterloo). Morgart was the Portage Trail Conference Player of the Year his senior year. Alex Mogilnicki (6-0, 165, Sr., Lakemore, OH/Springfield) and Cam McCreary (6-5, 170, So., Massillon, OH/Jackson) will start at center mid. The Cavs have plenty of depth and firepower behind Moglinicki and McCreary. Clint Merck (6-0, 160, Fr., Randolph, OH/St. Thomas Aquinas) scored 25 goals his senior year for the Knights. He will supply depth behind McCreary. The Cavs also have returning veterans Gustavo Stille (5-9, 155, Jr., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil/Tusky Valley), Chris Bahrey (6-0, 165, Jr., Cortland, OH/Lakeview) and John Dubois (So., 5-10, 165, Steubenville, OH/Catholic Central).

The Cavs have 19 players from last year returning. This team knows what it takes to win, with 22 wins the last two years. The Cavs have played the elite to the hilt the last two years, but have come up short. Coach Mead feels this team has the intangibles to take the next step. The Cavs are one of the strongest defensive teams in the AMC. Last year they held the opposition to just under one goal (0.99) per game, but they averaged just a little over two goals a game offensively. If the offense matures and the defense continues to do what it does best, stop the opposition, the Cavs are in for an exciting 2007 season.