Men's soccer season preview: Midfielders

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – When it comes to training camp, there are two concepts in mind for coaches and players alike: competition and preparation.

This is part two of a three-part season preview the Bryant University men's soccer team's upcoming season. We previewed the forwards on Monday and the defenders on Wednesday.

When it comes to the Bryant University men's soccer team, the midfielders have both of those in effect as head coach Seamus Purcell seeks his first unit for Friday's season opener at UMBC.

"There's probably eight players looking to play in four spots," Purcell said. "We need a lot of quality, a lot of pace on the wings and toughness in the midfield."

This year's group will be led by an influx of young international talent, with freshmen Matteo Toti (Rome, Italy) and Charles DeSantis (Saint-Mathias-Sur-Richelieu, Quebec) joining sophomores George Gill (Cork, Munster, Ireland) and Victor Rey (Lincoln, R.I.), junior Derek Blanchette (Hope, R.I.) and senior Alexander Wrona (Burlington, Conn.).

Wrona tallied Bryant's lone goal in an exhibition Monday afternoon.

Purcell emphasized that the combination of Wrona and junior Richard Murray (Essex, England) will be good for getting up the wide areas of the pitch, as the team looks to bring a possession-based style of play to the pitch this upcoming season.

"[Murray] started on the left but he can go to the right and Alex Wrona can do the same thing, so they can interchange," Purcell said.

If there is a theme for this year's core, it's depth. There are 17 players listed as a midfielder on the roster this year for the Bulldogs and 12 already have a year under Purcell in their back pocket.

During Monday's final tune-up exhibition, they took out the entire 11 and put in a new 11 and the tempo of the game stayed the same, much to the liking of Purcell and his staff.

"We're deep this year, that's the biggest thing," Purcell said. "The freshman class is really good and the transfers have played well."

Now it's up to the Bulldogs to utilize that depth to wear teams down when the season starts Friday at UMBC.