2010 Men's Soccer Preview/Recap

An early-round exit from the NCAA Division III playoffs is not the norm for the Trinity Tigers men’s soccer team.

Last year, after recording a regular-season record of 15-1-2, the Tigers were upset by Hardin-Simmons in the second round of the national event played at Trinity.
But head coach Paul McGinlay, in his 20th season at the Trinity helm, firmly believes the 2010 edition of the Tigers will rise to the occasion.

“It stresses the importance of every game, and to take nothing for granted,” said Coach McGinlay, whose Tigers finished with a No. 16 national ranking. “I hope our early exit in the tournament served some purpose. Complacency will not be an issue at any time, for any reason. There will be a renewed enthusiasm for the importance of teamwork on our squad.  All of our great championship teams have had it.”
 
A key component of the Tiger program is former Trinity standout Kelly Altman – a member of the 2003 NCAA Championship team – who is in his fourth season as assistant coach.
 
Trinity begins the 2010 campaign by hosting Schreiner in a non-conference home game on Sept. 1.  In a partnership with San Antonio Sports, Trinity will once again be the host institution for the NCAA Division III semifinals and championship games – for men and women – Dec. 3-4 at Blossom Soccer Stadium.
 
The 2009 Tigers won their eighth straight Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship (10-0-0 record), and advanced to the NCAA playoffs for the eighth consecutive time. Coach McGinlay earned his 11th SCAC Coach of the Year award, securing the honor for the fifth time in a row.
 
Trinity had the good fortune to play an exhibition game at home against the national team of Haiti. It marked the first game for the Haitians since the devastating earthquake. Fund-raising was carried out at the friendly, but spirited  contest, played before 2,800 fans. Haiti beat the Tigers with two second-half goals, turning around a scoreless opening period.

Seven starting Tiger seniors graduated, including All-America forward Ben Grossman, who was voted the SCAC Offensive Player of the Year.
 
Four returning starters will provide the nucleus for the Tigers, who will have another run at a SCAC title and the NCAA Tournament.
 
Junior defensive midfielder Zachary Garcia of  Dallas (Lake Highlands) was elected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-America Second Team, as well as the All-SCAC First Team. Garcia was a key component in stopping opponents’ attacks, as the Tigers yielded only 12 goals, while scoring 42.
 
Senior defender Patrick Cunagin of College Station, Texas (A&M Consolidated), was a stalwart member of the Tigers stout defense. Chesley Farmer, a junior midfielder from Dallas (Lake Highlands), made the All-West Region Team and the All-SCAC First Team. Farmer scored one goal, while taking only four shots on goal, and accounted for two assists.Nima Naderi, a junior midfielder from Carrollton, Texas (Creekview High School), dished out eight assists, and was named to the All-SCAC Second Team.
 
The leading returning scorer is senior midfielder Tommy Barros of San Antonio (Churchill), who was selected for the All-SCAC Third Team. Barros scored five goals, with three game-winners, and accounted for two assists. Junior midfielder Josh Adams of Houston (Clear Brook) fired in four goals and one assist.
 
Junior midfielder Aaron Olson of St. Paul, Minn. (St. Paul Academy), scored three goals and made one assist. Senior midfielder Clay Middleton of San Antonio (Churchill), and junior forward Peter Philpott of London, England (City of London Freemen’s School), also scored three goals each.Sophomore forward Alan Castillejos of Odessa, Texas (Permian High School) scored one goal, which was a game-winner, along with shelling out four assists.
 
Also returning is junior goalkeeper Jacob Truitt of Houston (Langham Creek), who recorded four saves in just 79 minutes of play.
 
The Tigers will once again have the services of five players who had to redshirt the 2009 season for medical reasons: senior forward Cameron Hogsett of McKinney, Texas (McKinney High School); senior defender Chris Schardon of The Woodlands, Texas (The Woodlands High School); sophomore forward Jeremy Gray of Columbus, Ohio (St. Francis DeSales); sophomore center/midfielder Raz Forstern of Bellaire, Texas (Episcopal); and sophomore goalkeeper Michael Barbosa of Arlington, Mass. (Arlington High School).

“Our returners are strong,” Coach McGinlay said. “The redshirts join a group which is both talented and hungry. “We have always been a team that can manage the ball. There are also some extraordinarily technical players on the roster.”
 
Sophomore defender Denny Mask (Tulsa Okla./Holland Hall Prep) from North Carolina-Greensboro is an incoming transfer player that will add experience and depth to the lineup.

A talented group of first-year players will enhance the Tiger program.

Among the newcomers is Yuri Ribeiro of Salvador, Brazil. Ribeiro played at the Academy of Professional Teams inVitória. He attended McClintock High School in Tempe, Ariz. (his junior year), where he earned honorable mention all-state honors, and was the regional player of the year.Ribeiro graduated from Seton Catholic High School in Chandler, Ariz.

A strong new player from Tempe is forward Brian Hines (Brophy College Preparatory). Hines was named to the All-East Valley (Phoenix metro area) Honorable Mention Boys Soccer Team.

Midfielder Darren McAfee of Albuquerque, N.M. (Albuquerque Academy), was named the Gatorade New Mexico Boys Soccer Player of the Year. McAfee was selected as the Class 4A Player of the Year, and was a two-time all-state first team honoree.

The Tigers will have a rematch with 18th-ranked Hardin-Simmons on Sept. 10 at Georgetown, Texas.

Following the Sept. 1 opener with Schreiner, the Tigers will play 10 games on the Trinity Soccer Field: Texas Lutheran (Sept. 16), fifth-ranked Christopher Newport (Oct. 1), Rowan (Oct. 3), Colorado College (Oct. 8, SCAC), Austin College (Oct. 10, SCAC), Millsaps (Oct. 15, SCAC), Birmingham-Southern (Oct. 17, SCAC), California-Santa Cruz (Oct. 23, Alumni Weekend), Sewanee (Oct. 29, SCAC), and Oglethorpe (Oct. 31, SCAC).