Marquette Golden Eagles
Overall Rank: #9
Conference Rank: #3 Big East
Marquette Team Page
From the beginning of the season until the middle of October, Marquette’s program was one of the hottest men’s soccer programs in the country. The Golden Eagles jumped off to a 12-0-0 start before they cooled off down the stretch. Marquette lost out on a trip to the Big East championship by one goal, and once the Golden Eagles reached the NCAA tournament their stay was short-lived. Still, Marquette had a strong season and improved by leaps and bounds over a 9-8-2 campaign in 2011. Can the Golden Eagles repeat an impressive effort?
2012 Record: 16-4-1, 5-2-1
2012 Postseason: NCAA tournament (lost in second round, 1-0, to Northwestern)
Coach: Louis Bennett
Strengths:
Marquette’s strengths start in net with Charlie Lyon, a redshirt junior who was a large reason why Marquette succeeded out of the gate. His 83.7 percent save success was good for a top 15 mark in the country, and his .779 goals-against average was just outside the top 20. Lyon is a vacuum that rarely lets anything get through him. Lyon recorded 10 shutouts in 21 games, so if he can duplicate that feat it should be another strong year for Marquette. Leading scorers Axel Sjoberg, Adam Lysak, Eric Pothast and Bryan Ciesiulka all return as well.
Weaknesses:
It is good that four of the top five scorers return to this year’s squad, because the leading scorer did not. Andy Huftalin, whose 10 goals and four assists led the squad a year ago, has graduated, but the cupboard is definitely not bare. About the biggest weakness to point out here is Marquette has to replace one-fourth of its scoring, and that should not be a problem. This team really doesn’t have many weaknesses besides the loss of Huftalin, and that bodes well for Marquette.
Final Projection:
The Big East, together with the Atlantic Coast Conference, are two of the toughest conferences for men’s soccer in the country. Marquette will have its hands full with schools like Georgetown, but the good news is the Golden Eagles won’t face Georgetown until one of the final games of the season. Marquette is on a mission to capture what it lost a year ago, namely a Big East championship and an NCAA tournament win or two. Don’t be surprised if one of those goals comes true.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
Goals: Axel Sjoberg, Sophomore, D, 8
Assists: Bryan Ciesiulka, Senior, MF, 9
Shots: Bryan Ciesiulka, Senior, MF, 52
Saves: Charlie Lyon, Junior, GK, 87
Madness 2014 MLS Draft Rankings:
#11 Axel Sjoberg
#32 C. Nortey
#33 Bryan Ciesiulka
Madness 2013 Men’s Soccer Recruit Rankings:
#60 Coco Navarro
#80 Louis Bennett
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