Ohio Wesleyan University | Battling Bishop Athletics

2008 Season Preview

Starting 4 freshmen at times, the Ohio Wesleyan University men's soccer team suffered some growing pains during the 2007 season but overcame those in time to make a stretch run in which the Battling Bishops won their last 5 conference games — narrowly missing out on the North Coast Athletic Conference championship — before winning the NCAC tournament and making their NCAA-record 30th Division III playoff appearance.

[ Tyler Wall ] Head coach Jay Martin welcomes 9 returning starters and 20 returning lettermen who will try to win the Bishops' eighth NCAC championship in the last 10 years and make another run into the NCAA Division III playoffs.

"We're young, but our sophomore class has a lot of experience," Martin said. "I'm looking forward to a good year."

After consecutive seasons in which his team scored 38 goals, Martin looks for an increased offensive output in 2008.

Sophomore Tyler Wall (Columbus/Upper Arlington) led the Bishops and ranked ninth among NCAC scorers with 8 goals and 4 assists last season. He was a second-team all-region and first-team All-NCAC pick in 2007.

[ Tyler Bryant ] Sophomore Tyler Bryant (Chillicothe/Unioto) ranked third on the team in scoring with 6 goals and 2 assists last year, and senior Todd Ufferman (Delaware/Hayes) and juniors Eric Francis (Alliance/Marlington) and Sam Striler (St. Louis, Mo./Country Day) also return, with senior Tommy Crabill (Cincinnati/Sycamore) providing additional depth.

Freshman Matt Bonfini (Dublin/Coffman), a high school All-America selection, and freshman Derek Sebert (Dublin/Coffman), an all-conference pick in high school, will seek to make immediate contributions.

"We should get better attacking production (than last year)," Martin said.

Four starters return in the midfield, led by a pair of all-conference picks in sophomores Chad Baker (Dublin/Jerome) and Ryan Harmanis (Hilliard/Davidson). Baker is the top returning scorer in the midfield, having compiled 5 goals and 4 assists in 2007. Both Baker and Harmanis were second-team All-NCAC honorees.

[ Jordan Halloran ] Junior Jordan Halloran (Springfield/Catholic Central), who had 4 goals and 3 assists in 2007 and 5 goals and an assist in 2006, also returns, as does junior Will Murawski (Alpharetta, Ga./Westerville North), whose 2 goals last year were both game-winners.

Junior Blake Pifer (Fleming/Ada) and sophomore Kody Law (Reynoldsburg) have impressed during preseason workouts and will see action, and sophomore Marcus Bastianelli (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) also returns.

Freshmen Travis Wall (Columbus/Upper Arlington) and Taylor Kiefer (North Canton/Hoover), both all-state selections in high school, and freshman Michael McGlaughlin (Nottingham, England/South Nottingham), an all-region pick as a prep, will contribute as well.

"We have a good group of midfielders," Martin said, "but we have to come up with a combination that can play together."

In the backfield, sophomores Eric Laipple (Westerville/South) and Brian Greene (Beavercreek) return at the outside spots. Laipple won a starting spot last season, while Greene emerged as the season progressed, starting 6 games.

[ Kevin McGowan ] Junior Kevin McGowan (Cincinnati/Oak Hills), a second-team All-NCAC choice in 2007, is back in one of the center positions, along with classmate Matt Giannetti (Montclair, N.J.), who seeks to bounce back from an injury-filled 2007 campaign in which he played in only 7 games.

Senior T.J. Trigg (Westerville/North) will look to recapture his form of 2006, when he was an honorable mention All-NCAC choice, and juniors Jonathan Hood (Rosemont, Pa./Radnor) and Phil Serfaty (Dublin/Jerome) also return, as does sophomore Taylor Prescott (Ruston, La./Home). Freshman Andrew Miller (Medina), a high school All-America selection, should make an impact, and Harmanis could see time in the backfield as well.

The Bishops' question mark will be in goal. After losing a 4-year starter, Ohio Wesleyan does not have a goalkeeper who has seen action in a varsity game.

Senior Ben Boynton (Claremont, Calif.) and junior Richard Ott (Norwalk) will battle for the starting spot.

"They are returning guys who did well in the spring, they just lack game experience," Martin said.

Freshmen Steve Gobel (Wilbraham, Mass./Loomis Chaffee (Conn.)) and Jared Shaner (Weston, Conn.) also are in the picture. Shaner was an all-state selection in high school.

"If we can keep it tight in the defensive end, we'll be in good shape," Martin said.

Ohio Wesleyan faces another rugged schedule. The season opens with the Fred Myers Invitational, with games against Olivet and Texas-Dallas; and the adidas® Invitational, with games against McMurry and Grove City. Important regional tests with Capital, DePauw, Otterbein, John Carroll and Ohio Northern follow immediately thereafter, with another challenge against Case Reserve down the line. In the NCAC, 2007 champion Kenyon, 2007 tournament runner-up Allegheny, 2006 tournament champion Denison, and traditional rivals Wooster and Wittenberg will be at the forefront of another thrilling title chase.

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