Sept. 2, 2010

Throw any excuse out there: graduation, injuries, coaching change, a new system, late, bad goals.

There was all of that, but it didn't matter. At the end of the day, the UMass Lowell men's soccer team limped to an uncharacteristic 4-12-0 record.

Head Coach Bryan Scales, along with the 14 returning members of the team, intend to prove the 2009 season was a fluke.

"It was a transition year. Out of the 14 players who played in the NCAA tournament quarterfinal (in 2008), only seven returned," said Scales, entering his second season. "Couple that with a new coach joining the program in late April, and it was always going to be a difficult challenge.

"I think we have more depth now," Scales added. "I think we are more athletic. We're certainly young, but we also have some strong, experienced leaders."

UMass Lowell opens the season Thursday at Dowling College (3:00) and next Tuesday at Dominican (3:30), both traditional regional heavyweights. The River Hawks open at home Saturday, Sept. 11 against the University of Bridgeport (1:00) and start Northeast-10 Conference play Sept. 14 at home against preseason No. 2 Franklin Pierce (7:00).

No doubt the River Hawks will miss goalkeeper Ryan Richards, certainly one of the best in program history, as well as defenders Rudy Kocandrle, Mike Galvin and Corey Samuelson.

The graduation of Jhony Valencia leaves a significant hole in the midfield while the speed of forward Jeffery Danso, who registered five goals and three assists last year, will also be missed.

However, the River Hawks return with plenty of firepower up front, creativity in the midfield and a formidable backline.

Senior Stephen Potcner (Wilmington, Mass.), who has steadily climbed UMass Lowell's all-time scoring list, was the leading scorer with six goals and one assist last year despite missing the final three matches due to an injury.

Potcner, tied for ninth all-time with 19 goals and eight assists (46 points), will be expected to again be a primary scorer and will likely be paired up front with a newcomer. There are plenty to choose from in junior Mohammed Saeed (Woburn, Mass.) and freshmen Gideon Gyasi (Lowell, Mass.), Adilson Lima (Leominster, Mass.) and Ehsan Tabrizi (Tewksbury, Mass.).

Saeed could have an immediate impact following two seasons at Bunker Hill Community College, where he was a two-time NJCAA First Team All-American and All-Region standout.

Lima comes to Lowell following a four-year career at Leominster H.S. where he was a two-time Mid-Wachusett League all-star and all-state standout as a senior while Tabrizi was an All-Merrimack Valley Conference player at Tewksbury H.S.

"Stephen returns to lead the forward line," Scales said. "Along with Mohammed and Gideon and Ehsan, there will be some good competition for spots."

Behind junior Matheus Candido (Lowell, Mass.) and senior Guillermo Cisneros (Methuen, Mass.), the River Hawks have plenty of experience in the midfield. Underscoring the plague of injuries last year, Candido was one of only four River Hawks to play in all 16 matches last year, over which he set up two goals.

Cisneros, who redshirted the 2008 season due to an injury, is in his fifth year with the program.

Expected to resume from last year is sophomore Ryan McLeod (Haverhill, Mass.), who peaked at the end of the season on the left side. McLeod may also see action up front. Additionally, Scales has sophomore Francis Adu-Gyamfi (Worcester, Mass.), who made 12 starts before an injury curtailed his season; and sophomore Bruno Bonicontro (Marlboro, Mass.), the sole newcomer to play in all 16 matches last year.

Junior Bruno Almeida (Chelsea, Mass.), who appeared in four matches, and sophomore Nate Oliveira (New Bedford, Mass.), limited to one appearance, are expected to see more minutes.

New to the team are freshman Kyle Garvan (Braintree, Mass.), Chris Reuter (Framingham, Mass.) and Eric DeSantis (Woburn, Mass.), who each enjoyed plenty of plaudits in high school.

A four-year player at Braintree H.S., Garvan was a Bay State League all-star and also a member of the FC Blazers club team which captured the 2009 state cup championship.

Reuter was an all-state player at Framingham H.S. as well as a standout in the FC Stars club system while DeSantis was a three-year starter at Woburn H.S., where he earned Middlesex League all-star honors twice.

"Our midfield is competitive, and every one of them is good on the ball," Scales noted. "Matheus, G and Bruno have all done well in the preseason. With Francis getting back up to speed after an injury, there will be some competition there also."

Defensively, UMass Lowell's backline has the potential to be special. Junior Asley Barrios (Revere, Mass.), limited to 12 matches a year ago because of an injury, and sophomore Charlie Ober (Atkinson, N.H.) return as does sophomore Michael Ntori (Worcester, Mass.), who, at 6-foot-3, brings a formidable presence.

Sophomore Evan Spann (Acton, Mass.) returns to the back following a two-year absence and could play right away. Spann started all 19 matches and emerged as one of the top freshmen defenders in the NE-10 when he helped lead the 2007 team to the NCAA Tournament second round.

Scales can also tab sophomore James Costello (West Newbury, Mass.), who started five of his first seven matches before succumbing to injury.

Redshirt sophomore Neil Lavanchy (Scituate, Mass.) leads three newcomers in the defense and is expected to play right away. Prior to sitting out the 2009 season, Lavanchy was a two-time All-New England standout at Cushing Academy.

Freshman Ross Marchand (North Andover, Mass.) and sophomore Beau Theriault (Salem, Mass.) are talented players who will battle for minutes. Marchand was a four-year starter and three-time Cape Ann League all-star at traditional power North Andover H.S.

Theriault enjoyed a standout career at Salem H.S.

In goal, the graduation of Richards leaves a significant void. UMass Lowell will rely on a pair of freshmen in Chris Maierle and Connor Askins, both of whom have impressed in the preseason.

Maierle was a two-time all-conference standout at Friends Academy which he backstopped to Long Island and Nassau County championships. He also enjoyed a plaudit-filled career in the Hicksville Strikers club system.

Askins was a four-year starter and all-state/conference standout at Catholic Memorial H.S. which he led to the state title as a senior.

"Defense is our biggest concern, but we have a bunch of players who can play in the back," Scales noted. "It's just a question of time before how quickly we can get settled."