Aug. 27, 2004

There are steps.

And then there are big steps.

After three seasons of the former, the Villanova men's soccer team delivered the latter in 2003. As September turned into October, the incremental gains that had characterized the program since the calender turned to the 21st century suddently grew in proportion.

By the season's final week, Villanova found itself ranked No. 25, its first national poll ranking in a decade. It also advanced to the Big East Tournament for the first time since 1997 and gave eventual NCAA Finalist St. John's all it could handle in a 2-1 overtime loss.

The `Cats finished 10-8-1 and nearly reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the program's Division I history.

"Last season," states coach Larry Sullivan, who is set to begin his 14th season in 2004, "put us on the map."

Of course, making sure the Wildcats remain there and potentially enhance that status is the task of the 2004 Wildcats.

"What we did last year has helped us in so many ways," states Sullivan. "This has always been a great academic school on a beautiful campus but this has added a dimension to our recruiting. When I go recruiting now, the response is different. People from all over the country now want to play for us. It's exciting.

"Our players have become so enthusiastic about this season that I almost have had to reign them in a bit. We made some strides but the reality is we lost four important seniors off of our team."

Indeed, while the `Cats feature a tested roster, the largest issue to be confronted is the replacement of four vital cogs to the 2003 edition: midfielders Dan Massimini, David O'Donnell and Scott Rodemer along with back Colin Raws.

Over the course of the last four campaigns, that quartet started 202 games. O'Donnell was perhaps Villanova's most complete player, a skilled midfielder who could add scoring punch when needed.

"O'Donnell was a guy who took us to the next level," says Sullivan. "He was someone the other team always had to be cognizant of. Rodemer had his best season as a senior, Massimini gave us versatility and Raws really took care of the left side for us.

"We are going to have to see some guys step forward to fill that void."

Despite those departures, Sullivan can choose from the deepest roster of talent he has drawn from in recent memory. Seven starters are back along with several reserves who are expected to expand their roles in 2004. In addition, at least three newcomers are expected to make an immediate impact on matters.

As was the case in 2003, Villanova's backbone is its defense. Senior Chris Edgar and junior Patrick Gallagher are back to anchor the central defense for the Wildcats. The pair meshed well last season and give Villanova size and skill in this critical part of the field.

Edgar, in particular, is a key.

A fifth-year senior, Edgar spent much of his early Villanova career as a forward or attacking midfielder. In 2003, Sullivan moved Edgar back to his natural position on defense and the Mahwah (N.J.) High School product flourished. His agressiveness and skill helped flush out numerous scoring opportunities for opponents in the box.

"Edgar has come a long way from when he was a freshman," Sullivan says. "He's always had the ability but now he understands what it takes from a mental standpoint. His experience is very important to us and we need him to help fill a leadership void for us."

This season Edgar will again patrol the central defensive area. On corner kicks, he will frequently move into the offensize zone in a nod to his scoring knack and willingness to compete for balls in the air.

Perhaps the greatest boost to Edgar in 2003 was good health. Last year marked the first time in his collegiate career that Edgar did not endure a significant injury.

Gallagher came into his own alongside Edgar in 2003. Like Edgar, Gallagher doesn't shy away from contact and is very solid with the ball. The native of Harrisburg, Pa., started all 19 games last season and was one of the major reasons Villanova allowed 0.97 goals against per game in 2003.

"Gallagher is very consistent back there and he works very well with Edgar," notes Sullivan.

Another critical holdover among the backs is Tony Watkins. The junior made 18 starts and became a fixture on defense. Watkins has good speed and is capable of chasing speedy wing men.

"I though Watkins came into his own last year," says Sullivan.

The fourth spot on the backline is the one that previously belonged to Raws. Several candidates will be in the mix there, including Greg Winther, who made three starts in 2003, and Felix Vincent. Vincent is a sophomore who is being shifted to defense after spending his rookie campaign at forward.

"I think our defense can be formidable again," Sullivan says.

The final link in the defensive chain is in goal, where the incumbent Craig Bald emerged as a force in 2003.

After opening the season as the backup to the more experienced Pat Walsh, Bald received a chance to play early in the University of Pennsylvania Tournament in September and capitalized. Bald was solid as the Wildcats defeated Princeton 1-0 and then rallied to defeat the host Penn Quakers 2-1.

From that point forward, Bald became the Wildcats' primary goalkeeper and the Edgewater, Md., native displayed a knack for making the key save at the most opportune moment. He posted an 0.88 goals against average, .833 save percentage and was 8-5-1 on the year.

"Bald did a very good job for us," states Sullivan. "He had a few so-so games but he had a lot more outstanding efforts. There were a few times when he kept us in the game until we could score and that's a huge plus."

Bald, a junior, again looms as the primary goalkeeper. Walsh enters the campaign as the No. 2 netminder, though Sullivan expresses no qualms about using the Allentown, Pa., native when the occasion calls for it.

"We still have confidence in Patty Walsh's ability to get the job done," Sullivan says.

A pair of newcomers, Jason Friel and John Ward, are also available. Friel is a freshman while Ward is a transfer from Gettysburg College. "Both those guys are very good athletes who will help us down the road," Sullivan says. "I see them as our goalies of the future."

In the midfield, Sullivan plans to lean heavily on senior Jonathan Lopuski and junior Brett Stassfurth, a pair of returning starters who often control the central part of the field for the `Cats.

Lopuski will serve as a captain in 2004. He is an integral component of Villanova's system.

"His attitude and eagnerness to lead were very noticable to me in the spring," says Sullivan. "He believes in this team and is doing everything he can to see that it reaches its potential."

Lopuski has 51 career starts to his credit, including each game in the past two seasons. He will be in the mix offensively, although that will be only a portion of his responsibility.

The native Montville, N.J., added one goal and two assists in 2003.

Stassfurth is a quietly efficient midfielder with good ball skills and excellent anticipation. He played in 17 games last season and contributed a pair of goals.

One obvious candidate to fill Massimini's shoes in the attacking midfield is high school all-american Dan DeMasters. The New Jersey native is the most coveted recruit to enter Villanova in recent memory and brings a wealth of skill with him.

"DeMasters is extremely versatile and I expect him to be part of the attack," says Sullivan.

Freshmen Craig Moscetti, Chris Quinn and Neil McNulty create depth and will all have an opportunity to make a dent in the playing rotation.

Sullivan can also call on junior Mike Altschuler. This midfielder has opened eyes with his play in the spring after a campaign in which he stepped forward as a reliable reserve.

"Altschuler has progressed and he's the type of guy who can help us as a role player," explains Sullivan.

Perhaps the single biggest reason why Villanova made its giant leap forward in 2003 was its improvement in the offensive zone. And while the Wildcats cannot be characterized as a goal-scoring juggernaut, they do have weapons.

Foremost among the threats up front is sophomore Marcelo Rodriguez. The West Orange, N.J., product led the `Cats in scoring as a rookie, producing four goals, five assists and 13 points.

"He has the knack for scoring goals," states Sullivan.

Sullivan also believes that Charlie Rowan can rebound from a 2003 goal drought this season. None of Rowan's 19 shots last season found the back of the net and it was certainly a frustraing experience for a forward who had been VU's most dangerous scoring option as a freshman in 2002.

"Charlie is a big, strong guy who didn't get the kind of results he wanted last year," Sullivan says. "But he has the ability. We feel Charlie can do the job for us."

Sullivan is also eager to welcome Chris Blatz back to the fold. Blatz made a splash as a freshman in 2001, scoring five points, with his unorthodox style and speed. He sat out the 2002 campaign and then suffered a broken leg early in the 2003 campaign.

"Blatz is coming back and we'll have to see how he progresses," Sullivan states. "He's not a 90-minute a game player. But he is very effective in bursts. He can completely befuddle defenders. He can change the pace of a game for us and we missed him when he was out."

Help will also come from other members of the freshman class beyond DeMasters. In particular, Matt Sleece and John Wells are expected to bolster the defense.

"We have depth that can help us this year and that wasn't always the case in the past," states Sullivan.

So what is the next logical step for the Villanova men's soccer program?

"The top 25 is certainly a goal we would like to attain," says Sullivan. "We were able to get there for a week late last season and then we fell right out because we faced two other Top 25 teams, Notre Dame and St. John's, that week. But it was good for our guys to get a taste of that.

"Being in a conference like the Big East, you realize that if you have some success the top 25 is a realisitc goal. That's something that I think is on all of our minds."

Of course, Sullivan understands that the gains of 2003 could prove fleeting if the next step goes somewhere other than forward.

"We understand there is still a lot of work to do," he says. "People will expect us to be good and that is something we have to be prepared for."

Still, there is no doubt that the gains of last season have created momentum. There is a buzz about the coming years for Villanova men's soccer that hasn't been evident previously.

"It's hard to put a finger on it," Sullivan states. "But when you go places to recruit or see people, there is a different kind of respect accorded to us. It's a nice feeling and a tribute to the hard work that these guys have done."

Now comes the next phase.

Will one giant leap be followed by another?

The Wildcats believe it can be.