Young core ready to lead Bulldogs into 2018
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – When the Bryant University men's soccer team first takes the pitch on Friday afternoon in Washington, D.C., it will be a squad of young leaders who are up to the task. Defensively, the team will be led by a pair of juniors in James Cochrane (Sandy Hook, Conn.) and Olivier Larente (Garches, France), who will be defender and goalkeeper, respectively.
Cochrane leads a defensive unit that returns just one starter from last season's Senior Day lineup, with senior Brendan Robinson holding that honor. Purcell remains confident since it was not only those starters who saw the pitch with regularity last season.
"We have five or six returning players that have been in the system for a few years and have the necessary experience," Purcell said before his team's practice on Wednesday. "When we identify a potential player that can flourish, we are able to slide him in when needed and it continues to work."
Quarterbacking it all will be Larente, who will have big shoes to fill after the graduation of Nick Stewart from the team last season. Stewart found himself in the Top 2 in the career record books in goals-against average and save percentage and that mentorship will prove vital for the Black and Gold.
"Ollie reads the game very well," Purcell praised of his keeper. "He has a high soccer IQ and is an excellent shot stopper and brings excellent feet and hands to that position."
Moving into the midfield, the Bulldogs return a pair of middies from last season's regular-season finale lineup, with sophomore Matteo Toti (Rome, Italy) and junior George Gill (Cork, Munster, Ireland) coming back for the 2018 season. Gill is serving as the team's captain this season and will prove to be vital in the connection between the defenders and forwards.
Senior Derek Blanchette (Hope, R.I.) flourished in Bryant's midfield during the 2017 year and will be back to bring that same success and more to the unit this season.
In attack, the name of the game is scoring goals and the Bulldogs brought in a new threat in redshirt-sophomore Antonio Terceros (Toronto, Ontario) who will transfer in nicely to the front line along with classmates Jared Lee and Anthony Barreira. Both of the latter became huge parts of the Black and Gold's attack later in the season.
"We have a good core of players that have shown a ton of potential in front of goal," Purcell said. "If we can stay healthy at that position, we will have a few good threats up top."
A team that allowed a minuscule 0.67 goals-against average in their final 10 games last season has shown the tenacity to stay in from the first whistle to last, the ability to produce in attack will be key to Bryant's improvements in that area from last season.
Their first regular season match starts Friday when the Bulldogs open at Howard. Their home opener is on Monday when Rhode Island comes to Smithfield. Both are 1 p.m. kickoffs.
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