2006 Men's Soccer Outlook

Jeff Bateson begins his first year as the Quakers’ head men’s soccer coach after taking for for career coachin wins leader Liam Behrens in March 2005.  He inherits a squad that returns 16 letter winners and posted a 6-7-4 record in 2005.  Last year was the first time in seven years that Guilford missed out on the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Tournament.  After working with the veterans last spring, Bateson is excited about bringing a new attitude, structure and discipline to the soccer program.

Although the Quakers lost four seniors and two All-ODAC players from last year, they return a strong core of players, including three-year starter Zane Campbell in goal.  Bateson plans on creating an emphasis on the team’s conditioning, strength, and athleticism.  The 2006 roster may be shorter compared to last year’s, but Bateson expects the squad’s competitiveness to be much stronger.

Guilford returns three of its top-five scorers from 2005.  Sophomores Joe Rigert and Scott Meguid, who produced 14 and 12 points respectively in 2005, are joined by junior Mike McCaffrey who tallied 10 points off of five goals last season.  Four of the Quakers’ veterans played in more than 10 games last season.  Junior captain Neil Meguid and sophomore Bryce Hunsucker will be asked to take charge in the midfield, while sophomores Robbie Fisher and Peter Deng will anchor the defense.  Guilford’s two seniors, Campbell and midfielder Ryan Huber will bring good game experience to the team.   The Quakers’ five first-year players were not totally recruited by Bateson, but he is confident they will add depth to his core of experienced returning student-athletes.

“The strongest part of our team is the defense” Bateson said.  “We are fast and athletic, and we are going to utilize those abilities to push the ball up the field.  We will be focusing on the fundamentals, working hard in practice and changing the attitudes, expectations, system and structure of Guilford soccer.  Our focus will be on ODAC games, we play in a very competitive soccer region and must be at our best during these matches.”

The ODAC coaches voted the Quakers last in the 10-team preseason poll. However Guilford’s tough non-conference schedule should prepare the young Quakers for their challenging ODAC matches later in the year. Guilford opens the season in a pair of tournaments.  First, the Quakers will travel to Maryville, Tenn. to play NAIA Tennessee Wesleyan and Division II Lincoln Memorial in the Nike Kick-off Classic.  Next Guilford heads up to Lynchburg, Va. to tackle Ferrum and Mountain State in the Shellenberger Classic. The Quakers open their home schedule September 16 at 3:00 p.m. against defending ODAC Champion Virginia Wesleyan at Haworth Field.