2010 Kalamazoo College Men's Soccer Season Preview

Coach Chris Adrian enters his fifth season at the helm of the Kalamazoo College Men’s Soccer team. The Hornets look to improve on last years’ 7-9-2 overall record (7-6-1 MIAA). The Hornets lost five seniors to graduation, including starting goalkeeper Ben Schroeder and midfielder Nick Robell, but the cupboard is far from bare.

The Hornets return their top six scorers from last season and are led by Dane Carey and Ben Darling, each of whom received All-MIAA honors in 2009. Carey, a senior from Roscommon (Roscommon HS), earned All-MIAA First Team honors. He led the MIAA in goals (8), points (19) and game-winning goals (4). He also had three assists in league games and was named MIAA Offensive Player of the Week for week eight. Carey was the only Hornet to start in all 18 contests in the 2009 campaign. Darling, a senior from Suttons Bay (Suttons Bay HS), earned All-MIAA Second Team honors. As one of the league's top defensive players, Darling anchored a defense that allowed just 12 goals in 14 league contests. Darling also had an assist and scored one goal last season. In addition to his all-league honors, Darling was named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week for week seven.

Last season the Hornets’ offense got great contributions from Martin Blanc (Jr), the team’s second leading scorer with seven points. Rounding out the top returning scorers are Dagan Hammar (So), Jared Georgakopoulos (So), Ben Darling (Sr) and Phil Jackson (Jr).

Defensively, the loss of Nick Robell to graduation will be a tall task and it is imperative that the Hornets find a way to fill his shoes. Coach Adrian added six newcomers to the roster this season and we could see some welcomed surprises coming out of this freshman class. In addition to the six freshmen, sophomore Michael Paul-Carres will look to challenge for a starting position this season.

The Hornets return a squad that has a wealth of experience and hopes to climb the ladder in the MIAA this season.

"The MIAA is an exciting conference to play in,” said Coach Adrian. “I am eager to see how other teams handle us, although we have a lot of work and much learning to accomplish before we open our MIAA season. We have a lot of hard working and talented young men on this team and I am anxious to get started.”

While the Hornets look to take care of business on the field, they have also done an exceptional job off the field and in the classroom.

“I am extremely proud of our team,” said Coach Adrian. “For the second year in a row our men's soccer team earned the MIAA Team GPA Award. It is a pleasure working with a cohort of players that have such a great commitment to their academics. They are of high pedigree and their integrity and dedication on and off the field makes Kalamazoo one of the best schools in the country.”

(Story courtesy Sharri Brumfield)