Seton Hill University (SHU) athletic teams have undergone some major changes in the past few years. From the addition of the football program four years ago, to the building of the McKenna Center, SHU sports have been put on the map in the last few years. Adding to the changes in Griffin athletics is the SHU Men’s Soccer program. Over the past few seasons, the Men’s soccer team has been in the process of transferring to the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Division II, and it’s a change that the Griffin soccer team has enjoyed.
“The transition to Division II has been great. It gives us a chance to compete with good teams on a consistent basis,” said head coach Daniel McCarty. The Griffin soccer team isnít afraid of the talent level of their opponents either.
By Steve Meredith
Senior Staff Writer
Seton Hill University (SHU) athletic teams have undergone some major changes in the past few years. From the addition of the football program four years ago, to the building of the McKenna Center, SHU sports have been put on the map in the last few years. Adding to the changes in Griffin athletics is the SHU Men’s Soccer program. Over the past few seasons, the Men’s soccer team has been in the process of transferring to the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Division II, and it’s a change that the Griffin soccer team has enjoyed.
“The transition to Division II has been great. It gives us a chance to compete with good teams on a consistent basis,” said head coach Daniel McCarty. The Griffin soccer team isnít afraid of the talent level of their opponents either.
“There are no easy games on our schedule. I don’t believe in playing weak teams. I want our guys to compete against the best in the region,” said McCarty. That attitude has served the Griffins well so far. The SHU men’s soccer team was ranked early on in the season as one of the top ten teams in the region, and that can certainly help when the players, coaches, and fans are all looking for respect from other teams, both in and out of their conference.
The Griffins enter their 2008 campaign with a very young, talented team. Defenseman Adam Galando is the only senior in the starting line-up for the Griffins, and there are plenty of freshmen making an impact early in the season.
“Our new guys have adapted very well, we are getting solid minutes from [freshmen] Brady Sanders and Tim Harrer. [Freshman] Jon Deluca is playing very well in goal,” said McCarty.
Having a young team can mean that a lot of pressure can fall on young shoulders. “Being a freshman, I would say the most difficult thing in the NCAA is keeping up with schoolwork while playing your best in a sport,” said Brady Sanders, a freshman.
This can be particularly hard when you are a freshman trying to guard the net.
“If you ask any freshman that plays, or any player for that matter, there is always a bit of pressure on us,” said freshman goal keeper Jon DeLuca. “Being a keeper is the hardest position on the field in my opinion. Being the last line of defense can be nerve racking, but also that expectation acts like a driving force for me. The team expects me to get the ball when I can, stop shots when the defense fails to mark a man, even communicate with the entire team for all 90 minutes. That’s a heck of a lot of pressure on me. I think so far I’ve dealt with it pretty well.” The Griffin soccer program is also bringing in some talented transfers who are helping to contribute to a new era of Griffin soccer.
“[Freshman] Tony Safran transferred from a Division I school in New York. He’s played well for us and brings a certain maturity to our team. He can be very dangerous in the attack,” said McCarty. “Mike Belsito is another transfer who has been a seeing the field a lot. He is a versatile player who can be used defensively or in the attack. He’s a solid player, very competitive and athletic.”
The players on the SHU Menís soccer team also think very highly of each other.
“This year’s team has the talent to make it to the conference championship and possibly win,” said DeLuca. “All we have to do is play as a team, not individuals and we shouldn’t have a problem.”
The main question for any coach of any young team is what they can expect from so many new players. McCarty knows exactly what he expects, and exactly what he wants out of his young, athletic team.
“A good finish for our team would be to end up in the top 3 conference teams, make the conference tournament and do well in that tournament,” said McCarty. “Secondary to that, we would like to be recognized in the region as a top 10 team. October is going to be a good month for us. We have plenty of opportunities, and if we continue to work hard and stay united, we can achieve our goals.”
