Bucknell University Athletics
2003 Bison Men's Soccer Hopes to Build on Success of a Year Ago
8/20/2003 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 20, 2003
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Rebuilding a team can be a frustrating chore, but to finally get the program to the level you have been striving for can make the daunting task all the more worthwhile. Bucknell men's soccer head coach Brendan Nash is confident that the rebuilding phase is near its end, and the 2003 squad is poised to challenge for the top spot in the Patriot League.
"This is the year we have been building for," commented Nash. "We have put together a more challenging schedule this year, because we feel this team can handle it."
Included in that challenging schedule are five different teams who enter the year with their names among the national preseason rankings. For the second year in a row, the Bison will play perennial powerhouse Maryland, a team that finished last season with a final ranking of third in the country. Also on the ledger are conference rivals American, Holy Cross and Lehigh, in addition to Hartwick and Loyola Marymount. American, Holy Cross, Lehigh and Loyola Marymount were all representatives in the 2002 NCAA Championship Tournament.
One of the keys to Bucknell's run this season is going to be a continued focus on defense. Last year, the Orange and Blue finished ranked fifth in the country in goals against average, and the team set a school record with 10 shutouts on the season.
Leading the way on the defensive unit will be a duo of captains, senior Brian King (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) and junior Michael Lookingland II (Fallston, Md./Loyola).
King is serving his second term as captain, having shared the duties last year with 2003 graduates Tom Ryan and Nick Taylor. He has been a solid presence in the Bison backfield for the past three years, battling through injuries to start 46 of the 49 career games he has played in.
Lookingland is a tenacious defender who was an instant leader the moment he stepped foot on the field in 2001. One of two returning all-league players for BU, Lookingland spent the summer practicing with D.C. United of Major League Soccer.
Joining King as senior representatives are Chris Beekman (Neptune, N.J./Neptune), Kevin Clifford (Marlton, N.J./Holy Cross), Patrick Glennon (South Orange, N.J./Columbia), Mark Mascarenhas (Marietta, Ga./Marist) and Steve Whitaker (Wayne, Pa./Conestoga).
Beekman and Glennon spend their time at forward, while Mascarenhas alternates between midfielder and defender, and Clifford and Whitaker don the gloves in the net.
Beekman is coming off of one of his best production seasons, matching his career best for goals (4) and adding a career-high three assists for 11 points. Both Beekman and Glennon, if healthy, will prove vital in the Bucknell offensive system.
Mascarenhas jumped into a starting role at back last season, and will be counted on to display his experience and leadership again this year.
Clifford and Whitaker will again be challenging sophomore Adam Edwards (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown) for a chance at defending the goal for the Bison.
In addition to Lookingland, juniors Ori Adrabi (West Hills, Calif./El Camino Real), Greg Buzzell (DuBois, Pa./DuBois), Dennis DeLuca (Far Hills, N.J./Delbarton), Alexander Far (Redding, Conn./Joel Barlow), Jonathan Hemmert (Westerville, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) and Otto Tancraitor III (North Huntingdon, Pa./Central Dauphin) all enter camp with two years of experience behind them.
Every junior on the team started at least one game last year, demonstrating their value to the squad.
An impact sophomore class, comprised of Edwards, the 2002 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, Eric Brunton (McLean, Va./Carmel (Ind.)), Tim Faneck (Shavertown, Pa./Dallas) and Scott Visnic (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough), returns with high expectations awaiting them.
In addition to Edwards' all-league nod, fellow teammates Brunton and Visnic made their presence known up front, totaling 11 and eight points, respectively. Faneck was also a force in the backfield, helping to stabilize the highly successful defensive unit.
Joining the upperclassmen are six newcomers and first-year player Matthew Arias (Birmingham, Ala./Jackson Prep (Miss.)). Arias rejoins the team for his first full season after suffering a torn ACL two years ago and undergoing three knee surgeries in the past 18 months.
Other freshmen on the 2003 squad are Sam Camens (Youngstown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch), Andrew Loia (Baldwinsville, N.Y./CW Baker), Tom Sherman (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), Cory Sidelsky (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee), Alejandro Ugarte-Limer (Providence, R.I./Classical) and Jeremy Wong (Groton, Mass./Francis Parker).
With a nationally-ranked defense from a year ago nearly completely intact, a host of natural scorers up front, and a talented incoming class, the Bucknell men's soccer team and coaching staff has plenty to look forward to for the 2003 season.
