Beaver Falls, PA - To say that the 2013 Geneva Men′s Soccer team is a large team of young talent would be an understatement. After graduating 11 seniors in 2012, Head Coach Gary Dunda will be looking for some young returners and fresh faces to fill the gaps. Dunda will count on the leadership of senior captains Jesse Herman, Garrett Masters, and John Shipley, the only seniors on the team, as he hopes to build upon the program′s past success. This group of seniors is very special to Coach Dunda as it was the first freshmen class that he coached when beginning his tenure at Geneva College. They have also participated in the post season all three years of their playing careers advancing to the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) regional semi-finals in 2010 and then began their NCAA eligibility with competing in the Presidents′ Athletic Conference (PAC) championship game in 2011 and 2012. Each member of the senior class also started in the NCCAA national championship game in 2011. They plan to continue the pattern and compete in the post season again this year.
Other familiar faces on the field will be junior goalkeeper Bryan Butler and junior midfielder Jeremy Troutman. After two standout seasons, Butler and his back line, which includes senior captains Herman and Shipley along with Kyle Terrill, the only freshmen to play every minute of every game last season, hope to be a dominant force in the PAC. Meanwhile, Troutman is anxious to reclaim his starting position in the midfield after an unfortunate injury in August of 2012, which drastically shortened his season.
Joining Troutman in the midfield will be a myriad of fresh faces from the large class of ten returning sophomores and 11 freshmen on the team this year. Sean Bernardi, a student who transferred mid-season is added to this group. "Bernardi had an excellent spring and I am excited to see what he will bring to our midfield" says Dunda. Senior captain Garrett Masters will hold down the offensive third with a trio of two sophomores and one freshman who will all be competing for their spot on the field.
"Overall we are a youthful team, but talented," says Dunda. "We will gain experience through the first half of the season with a very tough schedule. I am very excited about the incoming freshmen class and look forward to seeing who is going to step up and make an immediate impact." The Geneva College men′s team never shies away from a challenge and aims to utilize its rigorous non-conference matches to prepare for PAC games. Completing the 2012 season at 10-7-5 and 5-1-2 in conference play gives
Dunda and his team room to grow. For the last two years, the men′s team has finished the season as runner-up for the PAC title, NCCAA title in 2011 and NCCAA regional title in 2012. The 2013 season promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats as this young, talented program hopes to carry on the tradition of success.
Geneva College is a comprehensive Christian college of the arts, sciences and professional studies. Founded in the tradition of the Reformed Christian faith, Geneva prepares students to serve Christ in all areas of society: work, family and the church. Geneva College′s philosophy of education is based on the Foundational Concepts of Christian Higher Education. Geneva is a founding member of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU).
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