Men's Soccer Release (2004) - Outlook - Guilford College

Greensboro, NC  -- While Guilford graduated four senior all-conference student-athletes from last year's 10-8-1 club, don't shed too many tears for the Quakers just yet.  Coach Liam Behrens starts his seventh season on Guilford's sidelines with high hopes for the 12 letter winners returning from last year's Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Tournament semifinalist.

Guilford will unquestionably miss the experience, skill and athleticism of Tim Imafidon '04, Ampofo Darko '04, T.J. Muse '04 and Noam Sorek '04.  Imafidon, Guilford's first NCAA Division III All-American, scored a school-record 44 career goals.  Muse joined Imafidon on a pair of all-region teams in his career as a defender and midfielder.  Darko, the 2003 ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, ranked third in the league with 12 goals last season.  Sorek earned his second All-ODAC honor last fall as a first-team midfielder.  The four players combined for 70 percent of Guilford's 2003 goals.

Despite the loss of so many skilled and experienced players, Behrens says the Quakers can contend for the ODAC crown and its accompanying automatic NCAA Tournament berth.  He notes the ability of returning all-conference players like senior midfielders Darriel Cannon (left) and Brett Ralls.  Behrens also points to the experience of seven seniors, including Steffen Schollaert and Matt Feraci, two forwards who transferred to Guilford from Division I schools.

Look for the Quakers to maintain their 3-5-2 formation, but expect a more defense-oriented and technically skilled team as it compensates for loss of Imafidon and Darko.  Behrens also hopes Quakers will apply more defensive pressure on the ball, which will require more players off the bench.  A solid back line should minimize the pressure on the goaltender, which will be determined during preseason workouts among three players.

Here's a breakdown of Guilford's team by position:

FORWARD: Behrens looks forward to watching Schollaert and Feraci work together up top.  Schollaert attacks the goal and ranked third on the team with 16 points in his first season after transferring from the College of Charleston.  Behrens says Feraci, who played in 13 games at Appalachian State last year, is a sound target player who plays effectively with his back to the goal.  Sophomore forward Andres Miranda, last year's Most Improved Player, enjoyed a solid spring and should find some minutes up front.

MIDFIELD: The Quakers are varied and experienced in the middle of the park with Ralls and Cannon.  Ralls returns for a fifth season after receiving a medical redshirt for the 2001 campaign.  The three-year captain is an excellent leader and one of the most technically sound players on the field.  Cannon earned Second Team All-ODAC honors last season after scoring eight points on three goals and two assists.  One of the team's fastest and most versatile players, Cannon is an attacking midfielder and may occasionally play in the back to protect leads.  Senior Greg Hinkle (right) could also find minutes in the middle along with freshman Mike McCaffery, an offensive-minded midfielder from Pinkerton Academy in New Hampshire.

Hinkle also has starting experience on the flank, as does Cannon.  While the veterans have the edge in experience, Behrens likes talent of sophomore transfer Thomas Sangster and rookie Greg Haver of nearby Andrews High School in High Point, NC.

DEFENSE:  After sitting under the tutelage of two-time all-region selection T.J. Muse, senior Marcus Bowers looks to become the next in a line of talented Guilford sweepers.  Bowers started 13 games as an outside defender last year and returns along with junior Lenny Niedosik. Cannon can also play defense as needed.

GOALKEEPER: Sophomore Zane Campbell and junior Matt McCall split time between the pipes last year, but neither netminder especially distinguished himself.  After starting the season's first six matches, McCall took over before Campbell returned to the starting lineup for the team's final six contests.  Neither student-athlete has a lock on the starting job headed into preseason camp, although both are serviceable goalies and played well at times last year.  Behrens anticipates excellent competition between Campbell, McCall and newcomer Andrew Allison, a transfer to Guilford from Concord.  A Greensboro native, Allison played goal for the NCAA Division II Mountain Lions in 2001 before the school dropped the sport.

The Quakers face a challenging schedule that begins with tough tournaments at Maryville (TN) and Johns Hopkins.  Guilford opens its home season September 18 against defending ODAC Tournament champion Virginia Wesleyan and meets another NCAA Tournament participant October 19 when it plays Greensboro under the lights of McPherson Stadium, home of the 2004 and 2005 NCAA Division III soccer semifinals and finals.