Men's Soccer 2015 Season Preview

HUNTINGDON, PA – The Juniata men's soccer team returns to the field in 2015 with more depth and an intensity that they hope will carry them into the postseason again. Last season, the Eagles finished with a 5-14 record, 2-6 in the Landmark Conference. Many of those losses were one-goal decisions that just didn't go the team's way. This year, they're determined to turn those games into wins. 

"Even a few of the two-goal games were ones where we were down by one and pushing to get an equalizer," head coach Dan Dubois said. "We were in a lot more games than a 5-14 record would let on and the team knows that."

Dubois noted that the incoming class has the returning players excited for the season.

"The intensity in practice is just different," Dubois said. "It's not chaotic but there's a really good level of intensity and focus that's allowing us to progress faster." 

Helping to lead that intensity are senior captains Dylan Thompson (Broomfield, CO/ Peak to Peak Charter) and Reese Fisher (State College, PA / State College Area). The two defenders started every game for Juniata last season. Thompson scored one goal and earned four assists. 

Juniata also welcomes back their leading goal scorer from 2014, junior midfielder Dani Meyer-Arrivillaga (Durham, NC / Carolina Friends). Meyer-Arrivillaga scored six goals his sophomore year, including three game-winners.

"The returning players came in from day one committed to their fitness levels," Dubois said. "That's another factor helping us progress. We've been able to focus on other things like style of play and how we're going to attack the game because they've already been working on the other things."

In goal this season for the Eagles are senior James Johnson (Cumberland, MD / Fort Hill), sophomore Achim Schwemmlein and sophomore Mark Lee (Newtown Square, PA / Marple Newton). Johnson made 47 saves last year and started eight games.

After the first few preseason practices, Dubois said that the coaching staff was impressed with the level of play that the incoming players came in at.

"They're going to be able to contribute," Dubois said. "That gives us a lot of depth. We won't have to burn anybody out and make them play 90 minutes of every game because we have a healthy roster of players that can all contribute."

With added depth to the midfield, Juniata plans to remain competitive in the Landmark Conference. Their first conference contest of the season is Sept. 19 at Drew University at 1pm. Juniata starts their season with four road games starting on Sept. 1 against St. Vincent at 4pm.