Season Preview: A deeper and more athletic team prepares for new men's soccer campaign

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Gallaudet University men's soccer team will enter the 2011 season with a deeper and more athletic squad then from a year ago as the Bison prepare for a new year. The Bison will enter a season for the first time in over four years without worrying about a lengthy losing streak.

GU tasted victory for the first time since October 21, 2006, when the Bison defeated SUNY Cobleskill 1-0 on October 2 in a North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) contest. The win ended a 62-game losing streak and marked the bright spot in yet another tough losing season for the Buff and Blue.

The win was the lone tally for the Bison under the direction of head coach Luis Gendive, who was the last coach to guide the Bison to a win in '06. Gendive coached the Bison in 2005 and '06 then returned last year. This is his fourth year, overall, as the head coach of the program.

FORWARD

Gallaudet's leading scorer from last season returns in sophomore Abdul Al-Makura (Abuja, Nigeria) as he netted three goals for the Buff and Blue in his debut. Juniors James Rummo (Butler, N.J.) and Jean-Pierre Kanashiro (Springfield, Va.) and sophomore Wilson Velez (Marlborough, Mass.) add a ton of speed upfront for Gallaudet. Rummo started 11 games last season and saw action in 16 contests as he recorded one assist. Velez logged 14 games including six starts where he scored one goal. Rummo and Kanashiro are serving as two of the team's three co-captains. Freshman Rood Metellus (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) is a new face that brings much needed depth to the unit.

MIDFIELD

At midfield the Bison have its most experience as the unit is led by senior Casey Williams (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and juniors Richard Spiecker (Rochester, N.Y.) and Jonathan Roquemore (Rowlett, Texas). Spiecker was one of five Bison to play in all 19 games last season as he made 12 starts. Roquemore saw time in 13 games and started four times while Williams played in nine games as he scored one goal.

A key to success on offense in soccer is the midfield and creating scoring opportunities. Gendive will turn to senior Cory Behm (Rochester, N.Y.) the other team co-captain to step up and help lead this unit. Sophomore Adam Moyer (Conneaut Lake, Pa.) and freshmen Karlis Intsons (Riga, Latvia) and Gabriel Carino (New York, N.Y.) will help add fresh legs to a deep unit.

DEFENSE

The defensive unit returns three starters from a year ago in senior Josh Sechman (Palmyra, Pa.), junior Jeremy Wagoner (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and sophomore Ben Letendre (Marlborough, Mass.) who will be paired with a quartet of new talent. Sechman is the leader of the group as he started 16 of the 19 games played last season for the Buff and Blue. Wagoner saw action 18 games but only started 15 while Letendre started 16 games.

New to the unit are junior Richard Bauman (Hollywood, Fla.), sophomore Felix Ramirez (Anaheim, Calif.) and freshmen Jose Castillo (Madison, Wis.) and Dylan White (Oklahoma City, Okla.). These new players will be vital in helping to keep the unit fresh and clearing the ball out to help start transition on offense.

GOALIE

Gendive turns to sophomore Jordan Ramser (Louisville, Ky.) and freshman Eric Setzer (Middletown, Md.) to man the net in 2011. The Bison have been used to seeing former senior Poloko Qobose pacing in between the pipes over the course of the past few years. Ramser saw action in 10 games last season including one start where he logged 230 minutes and made 29 saves.

SCHEDULE

Gallaudet begins the 2011 season at home on September 2 against Washington Adventist. GU then hits the road on September 5 at Christendom College before returning home to face Potomac State on September 7. That is the last home game for GU in September. The Bison will begin conference play on the road September 17 against Penn St.-Harrisburg then three straight road games before returning home on October 1 to face reigning NEAC champion SUNYIT. The following day the Bison will host SUNY Cobleskill in a rematch of last year's 1-0 game. The Fighting Tigers finished 1-7-1 in conference play last season. The next three games are on the road for the Buff and Blue including a trip to Southern Virginia on October 7 before two conference games on October 15 and 16. The Bison host Penn St.-Berks on Friday, October 21, during Homecoming Weekend and then host conference newcomer Lancaster Bible on October 25. The following day the Bison travel to Salem International before ending the regular-season at home against Penn St.-Abington. The NEAC tournament begins the first week of November.

SUMMARY

Gallaudet will look to try and start fast and strong out of the gate in 2011. The Bison need to build momentum and try and get some wins under their belt heading into conference play by mid-September. The returning players from last season experienced the taste of winning and will try and teach the new players what it takes to win in the NEAC and at the Division III level. GU is deeper and athletic then in past years so the future looks promising for the Bison.