Aug. 27, 2015
The 2015 season is Tom Carlin's eighth as Villanova's head coach, a fact that seems hard to fathom for a leader merely a decade and half removed from his playing career at Arcadia University. Those intervening years have brought perspective and wisdom as the Wildcats have constructed a strong foundation, one brick at a time.
"It's been a steady growth," he explains of a tenure that has produced six BIG EAST Tournament appearances in those seven seasons, including one in 2014 that ended at the hands of eventual NCAA College Cup Final Four participant Providence.
Villanova enters its second season in the Higgins Soccer Complex and Carlin believes that, more than anything, is an indication of the forward progress since he took the reins from former coach Larry Sullivan in 2007.
"All of our efforts before led up to this facility," Carlin states. "If you look at the level of recruits coming in, it is at a higher level than it was before. So that helps. If you look at our efforts we have had a lot of pioneers in this program that have gotten us to this point. We've taken down a lot of nationally ranked opponents and had some Big East playoff success."
Now the quest is to add another brick, or maybe several, to the wall in 2015. The Wildcats return a roster well stocked with veterans that finished 8-8-3 overall last season, in fifth place in the rugged BIG EAST. The new campaign gets underway with a road contest at Albany on Friday night (7 p.m.).
Seniors Colton Bryant, Chris Hill and Sean Sheridan have all logged heavy minutes as starters over the past few seasons. The same is true of junior forward Max Kroschwitz. Sophomore goalkeeper Will Steiner was named to the BIG EAST All-Rookie team a year ago while playing every regular season minute for the Wildcats.
The intriguing newcomers include freshman midfielder Zach Zandi, who looms as a key facilitator for Villanova, and transfers Miguel Polley (Temple) and Randy Falk (Penn State).
Another foundational element was put into place in 2014, when the Wildcats embraced a new strategic system focused on passing and ball movement. There were periods of inconsistency in year one of the installation but Carlin expects that to change in year two.
"We're much further ahead of where we were last year at this time," notes Carlin. "That's sort of funny to say because we have a number of new pieces, but it's true. I think we were good in some of the (preseason) scrimmages, but not great. You don't expect to be great at this time of the year. However, I thought the flow of the game was much better than it was last preseason."
Goal scoring will be at a premium at a level of soccer where sophisticated scouting and superior defense are standard fare. The Wildcats' coaching staff believes this unit offers the potential for the kind of balanced scoring attack that can apply consistent pressure to its opponents.
Leading that contingent are two target forwards who have produced points in the past and appear primed to do more damage as juniors.
Kroschwitz began to settle into the lineup late in his freshman season of 2013 and then became a fixture as a sophomore. His 13 points in 2013 are the most of any returning Wildcat and included three game-winning goals.
Junior Padraic McCullaugh made an impressive debut as a rookie in 2013, scoring three goals to go with an assist. A knee injury limited him to eight games a season ago but the native of Sacramento is back in top form and expected to be a factor with his size (6-8) and scoring tools inside the 18-yard box.
"Max and Padge are strong guys who are proven at this level," Carlin states.
Senior Damilola Adetola and junior John Jlopleh were often used as change of pace reserves in 2015 and have performed well in the preseason. Each offers a contrasting style that can change a game's pace, especially later in a half. Both will play important roles at forward or in the attacking midfield.
Sophomore Lucas Hodges enjoyed an impressive spring season and appears ready to shoulder a heavier workload on the attacking side as well.
"Lucas has really played well and propelled himself into a larger role," states Carlin. Newcomer Polley saw extensive duty in 2014 at Philly Soccer Six rival Temple and contributed three assists in 16 games. Another key addition could be Zandi, a freshman whose creativity and ball skill could open some scoring doors for the Wildcats.
"Padge, Max, and Miguel can all score goals," states Carlin, "and Zandi can set them up. That's something that we've been missing. In soccer it's usually No. 10, the playmaker. Zandi is a blue collar workmanlike player in that mold, who will be able to get our forwards and midfielders in position to score goals."
"The most encouraging thing we're seeing is that we are getting the chances consistently, whereas last year at this point we were scoring goals but the chances weren't as consistent."
Holding down significant roles in the defensive midfield will be senior Sheridan and junior Andreas Bartosinski. Sheridan has been a lineup fixture since 2012 and his experience and skill will be an important ingredient for the `Cats. Bartosinski was dependable last season in his Villanova debut and now is a trusted fixture in the midfield.
Veterans Frank Russomano and Fabian Gonzalez are also options in the midfield. Freshman Stephen Harlan hopes to makes his presence felt here as well as does classmate Andrew Sinow, who made the team in preseason training.
The back line was a Wildcats' strength in 2014 and that shouldn't change this season. The central defense will again be anchored by Bryant, a redshirt senior.
"Colton just brings a presence back there that gives our guys confidence," notes Carlin.
Junior Eric McKenna and senior Michael Manta have been solid defenders in their time as Wildcats and will be part of the equation in holding opponents at bay. Manta filled in admirably last season at center back and his experience is an asset there.
Sophomore Christopher Bared held down the left outside back slot as a freshman and has continued to develop over the off-season, highlighted by an appearance with Panama's U20 national team. Senior Chris Hill has held down the right outside back post in good form for most of the past two seasons. New addition Randy Falk, a graduate transfer from Penn State, will have a prominent role in the back four too.
"Randy has been a big pickup because he's so gritty," notes Carlin. "He's just a tough, hardworking player."
Freshman back Kian Zapata is adapting to the speed of the college game but he is a quick learner who has made strides in his first preseason as a Wildcat.
Of course, the goalkeeper often looms large at the defensive end and the Villanova staff is excited about the work of Steiner. In his first full season of college action, Steiner seized hold of the position last off-season and enjoyed a terrific debut campaign, posting an 0.86 goals against average and seven shutouts.
This year, Steiner will serve as a team captain.
"Steiner is very important," states Carlin. "We have a very veteran backline with guys who are all upperclassmen. But Steiner is the glue that holds that together. He's very vocal back there and is a leader for us."
A trio of keepers returns to support Steiner, including Kieran McCarthy, Chris Polo and Drew Stanko. The BIG EAST again poses a formidable challenge.
"Division I college soccer is tough," Carlin says. "Knowing that you may have as many as four teams in the preseason Top 10, just makes everything else so much more important.
"There is a focus and attention to detail that you have to have throughout the season because you understand that, while it is great to be in one of the best soccer conferences in the country, you have to have some momentum going into it. The way you gain that momentum is by getting results in the non-conference schedule and playing a brand of soccer that suits your players.
"Nothing will be easy for us. We will have to earn our moments. That isn't easy because the opponent is trying to do the same thing."
That is a wisdom born out of seven years' worth of perspective at this level. And Carlin and Company are excited to write new chapters, beginning at Albany.
"We haven't been able to find that NCAA Tournament berth and that's been kind of the monkey on our back," Carlin states. "I believe that if the program had this facility seven years ago, that might have been different. But that was just the state of where the program was at. We didn't have it and it took us some time to figure out what worked in the old conference. Now we're finding out what works in the new conference.
"We look at the here and now, the talent that we have, our facility, and being a part of Villanova University. We feel moving forward we can accomplish anything that the top programs in the country want to accomplish. We're geared to do that. We feel good about where we're situated.
"We don't focus on preseason polls. We don't focus on any outside information. We focus on the strength of the group and what we feel we can accomplish."
