Falcons Continue Preparations for 2014 Season

33527 — The Falcons open the regular season on Friday, Aug. 29,
hosting IUPUI in a 6:00 p.m. start at Cochrane Field

The Bowling Green State University men's soccer team definitely has a new look in 2014, but head coach Eric Nichols and his club enter the season with the same goals as in previous years. Nichols and his staff have a total of 12 players back from last season's team, while welcoming 12 newcomers into the Falcon fold.

2014 SCHEDULE | ROSTER | BGSU-MARSHALL RECAP

Last year's team finished with an overall record of 6-7-6, and the Falcons tied for fourth place in the Mid-American Conference with a 2-2-2 league ledger. A total of 14 of the team's 19 matches were decided by one goal or less, including the team's last five losses.

The large number of new faces within the program leads to mixed feelings for Nichols. "It's both exciting and daunting," said the head coach, who is entering his sixth year at the helm of the Falcons. "We've got four returning starters, and some other guys who started a few games here and there.

"We have a handful of players who were definitely good enough to start, but were stuck behind seniors last year. A few of them still got a significant amount of game experience, but they all have what I would call 'culture experience.' They have been around the program, know how we operate and will be able to take on a more significant role this season."

Like the roster, the coaching staff features a 50/50 mix of returnees and newcomers. UCLA grad and professional goalkeeper Eric Reed is the top assistant, having joined Nichols' staff in February after spending two seasons at Davidson College.

After playing for the Falcons in the first four seasons of the Nichols Era, Zach Lemke is back for his second year on the coaching staff. Brandon Silva, one of 10 seniors on last year's team, now will sit on a bench that he rarely occupied over the last four years, as he begins his first fall as an assistant coach.

The 2014 roster features only four returning starters and a total of just nine players who have ever seen time on the pitch for the Falcons. The quartet of returning starters includes senior Danny Baraldi, juniors Jake Genrich and Ryan James and redshirt sophomore Max Auden.

GOALKEEPERS
While the loss of all 10 seniors from last year's club will be felt, the 2014 Falcons' greatest unknown is due to the graduation of Michael Wiest, who played every second of every match over the last two seasons.

As a result, the '14 roster features three 'keepers, none of whom have ever seen the field for the Brown and Orange. While game experience may be lacking among that group, there is no shortage of talent.

A pair of redshirt sophomores, Nick Landsberger and Ryan Heuton, are joined by freshman Billy Larsen in the goalkeeping race.

"Nick's been here for two years, learning under Mike Wiest," said Nichols. "Nick is a perfect example of someone who was good enough to play last year, but was stuck behind a high-quality player on the depth chart."

Heuton, a transfer from Foothill CC in his native California, sat out the 2013 season at BGSU.

"We've got a lot of confidence in both Nick and Ryan," said Nichols. "Billy Larsen is showing a lot of progress in the early stages of the preseason as well."

DEFENDERS
The Falcons' starting goalkeeper may have not yet been determined, but that player will see a wealth of experience in front of him on the BG back line. Genrich has started all but one match at a center-back position since his arrival on campus, while Auden moved into the starting eleven at an outside-back spot last fall. Senior Jon Kumher, redshirt sophomore Danny Shea, true soph Jacob Roth and redshirt freshman Brent Winkler will be in the mix as well.

Kumher, a 2014 team tri-captain along with Baraldi and Genrich, has been a steadying influence off the bench over his first three seasons with the club, while Roth saw time in the back in his first fall with the Falcons.

"Jon Kumher is a very versatile player for us," said Nichols. "He has played at a number of positions in the past, but we expect him to be on the back line this season, and we know he'll be a leader back there."

"Jacob Roth saw time on the field last year and had a really good spring season for us. He's got a lot of tools, and he'll be on the back line somewhere, too. Danny Shea is another kid who saw a lot of time in the spring. He's a veteran in the program, and we expect him to be in the mix as well."

A pair of freshmen, Ian Haskin and Beck Nebergall, have impressed Nichols during their brief time on the BG roster. "Ian and Beck each could play as holding midfielders or as outside backs. Both are showing attributes that indicate they might be contributors for us in their first year."

MIDFIELDERS
There is no shortage of talented veterans in the midfield. Baraldi has been a starter in each of his first three years, and has posted double-digit point totals in each of those three seasons. Baraldi, a Preseason All-MAC First Team selection by the College Sports Madness web site, enters 2014 with 47 career points in 54 games as a Falcon. He scored the lone goal in BG's lone 2014 exhibition match, a 1-0 win at Marshall on Wednesday night (Aug. 20).

"Danny is one of the top players ever to put on a BG uniform," said Nichols. "By his standards, he struggled at times last season, but still ended up with 10 points. He has proven himself to be one of the top players in the MAC and the region, and we know he wants to leave his mark on the program."

James has scored 14 points over his first two seasons, trailing only Baraldi in career scoring among active Falcons. Sophomore Joe Sullivan provided a spark for the Brown and Orange last season, scoring six points in his first year on campus. Both of his goals proved to be game winners, tying him for the team lead.

"Danny, Ryan and Joe give us three guys who have played a lot of minutes and made a ton of plays for us," said Nichols. "They have scored goals, set up goals, and they give us a lot of energy and athleticism in the midfield. We know what they can do, and we will count on them to help us all over the field, as well as off the field. There's a lot of experience among that trio."

Jake Martin, a Northwest Ohio native, joins the Falcons after two years at Owens CC. Martin, a junior, and freshmen Prayag Jina and Bradley Macomber will be vying for time in the midfield this fall.

"Jake Martin has collegiate experience with a successful program at Owens," said Nichols. "His skill set has transferred well to our program, and he's going to be a significant player for us.

"We have some young players who are exciting, including Prayag Jina and Bradley Macomber. Prayag has what we would call 'soccer savvy'. He has a nice touch. Brad is very quick. He may end up as more of a forward, but we've got him in the midfield for now.

"Both Prayag and Bradley are good at combining, and are not afraid to score goals. They have impressed the staff in the first week of the preseason, and should see time on the pitch."

FORWARDS
Up top, senior Vlad Lekarev is joined by a quartet of relative youngsters. Lekarev begins his third season with the Falcons after playing one year at Butler, and has appeared in 33 matches at BG to date.

Sophomore Pat Flynn, a transfer from DePaul, enrolled at BGSU in January and saw action during the spring season. He scored five points for the Blue Demons a year ago. Lekarev and Flynn are joined by freshmen Chase Betenson, Keaton Reynolds and Ty Smith.

"Vlad has seen quite a few minutes for us over the last two seasons, and Pat Flynn gives us two strikers with experience," said Nichols. "They both got chances for extended time in spring ball.

"Ty Smith has scored a lot of goals in his past, and Chase and Keaton are two more youngsters who each have some tools and give us greater athleticism."

SCHEDULE
Once again this fall, Nichols and his club will play a challenging schedule that will test the Falcons from August to November. That schedule includes three matches against Big Ten Conference foes, and two home games vs. teams that advanced to at least the second round of the NCAA Championships in 2013.

"If you're looking for the 'easy' game on our schedule, you're not going to find one," said Nichols. "We've obviously got some big dogs lying in wait, as we play Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State from the Big Ten.

"In the MAC, Akron is a perennial power on the national level, and West Virginia has been very strong as well. When you look at those two teams, as well as Buffalo, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan, it is abundantly clear that there are no easy games in the MAC.

"Additionally, teams like Duquesne and IUPUI will be very tough, and we've had some battles with regional foes such as Cleveland State, Detroit and Wright State in recent years.

"As always, we want to challenge ourselves by playing the best competition we can. That's what our players want, and that's a big part of why they come to BG. We have to be on top of our game from now until November, and we can't take any days off, on the practice pitch or on the game field.

"We know our guys have the talent, the athleticism and the drive to be successful, and we plan to work hard, day in and day out, to reach our goals."

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