M. soccer team looks to rebound
Mike Mazzeo
Issue date: 8/28/09 Section: Sports
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Coming off a record-breaking 2007 season in which Drexel went 11-5-3 and won its first-ever Colonial Athletic Association regular season title with a program-best 8-2-1 mark, the underachieving Dragons, decimated by injuries, struggled to a 6-7-5 record in 2008. Drexel finished just 4-4-3 in the conference and did not qualify for the postseason.
However, the Dragons come into this season healthy and with a fresh attitude as they try to defy the long odds against them. Drexel was tabbed 10th in the 12-team CAA preseason poll, while defending champion George Mason was selected to repeat.
The Dragons lost several key contributors from its 2008 team to graduation including All-CAA Second Team defender Bryan Ruff, midfielders Leland Raum (three goals) and Carlos Ruther (two goals) and goalkeeper Cory Robertson (1.48 goals against average).
But those losses will not be as severe if Drexel can get productive seasons out of the Assumpcao brothers, Fabio and Thiago.
Both of the Brazil natives have enjoyed success with the Dragons at midfield. However, both missed significant time with injuries in 2008. Fabio, a senior, played just 13 games and netted a mere two goals, while Thiago, a sophomore who was an All-CAA Rookie team selection in 2007, missed the entire 2008 campaign.
Anthony Bafile and Mike Crosse headline the other returnees. The forward tandem finished first and second on the Dragons in scoring. Bafile notched a team-high five assists and 11 points on his way to earning a Second Team All-CAA selection, while Crosse scored a team-high four goals despite making just four starts.
In search of a replacement for Robertson Drexel has four goalies on its roster. Senior Alex Reber has the most experience of the quartet, having started two games last season. However, he will be pushed for the starting position by freshman Tres Heffron and redshirt freshmen Collin Weir and Tim Washam.
Ruff's loss is arguably the most difficult of the bunch. He was a stalwart on the defensive side of the ball, often locking up against the opposition's most prolific soccer. Senior defender Greg Ernold, a Third Team All-CAA pick, will assume the majority of Ruff's responsibilities on that side of the ball.
Head coach Lew Meehl's team will kick off its 2009 season at Canisius Sept. 1 and play two subsequent road games at St. Francis (Pa.) Sept. 5 and Saint Joseph's Sept 9.
The Dragons will play their home opener Sept. 16 against La Salle and close out their non-conference schedule against Iona Sept. 22 at Vidas Field.
Drexel will begin CAA play Sept. 26 at UNC Wilmington and then travel back home to face Towson Oct. 3 on Alumni Day.
GMU will come in to Philadelphia Oct. 27 and the Dragons close out the regular season with a Senior Day game against William & Mary Nov. 6 at Vidas Field.
Prediction: This will be a rebuilding season for Drexel. The team surprises its critics en route to finishing around .500 for the season but does not qualify for the postseason.
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