George Washington University

Aug. 31, 2010

GW vs. GMU Live Video

WASHINGTON, DC - The George Washington men's soccer team kicks-off the 2010 season Wednesday at 2:00 pm against George Mason in the 10th annual DC College Cup hosted at American University's Reeves Field. The Colonials will also take on Howard Saturday at 12:00 pm.

GW, American, George Mason and Howard comprise the DC College Cup field for the fourth straight season. Each team will play two matches with the champion to be determined by a point system based on wins and draws. In the event of a tie, the champion will be crowned using a tie-breaking formula that includes head-to-head meetings, goal differential and goals scored.

2010 DC COLLEGE CUP SCHEDULE (all matches at American's Reeves Field, Washington, DC)
Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010
George Washington vs. George Mason - 2:00 pm - Live Video
Howard at American - 5:00 pm

Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010
George Washington vs. Howard - 12:00 pm
George Mason at American - 3:00 pm

The Colonials finished third behind the Eagles and Patriots in the 2009 event after capturing Cup titles in both 2007 and 2008. GW is 10-6-2 in the nine-year history of the DC College Cup and trails both George Mason (10-21-3) and Howard (15-18-4) in the all-time series.

2010 GW MEN'S SOCCER SEASON PREVIEW

The George Washington men's soccer team capped the first decade of the new millennium with double-digit victories (10) for the 13th time in the program's 45-year history. The most recent 10-year span saw the Colonials lay claim to a pair of Atlantic 10 Championships and make two trips to the NCAA Tournament. Entering his 23rd season at GW, head coach George Lidster will rely on 12 returning letterwinners and 11 newcomers as the Colonials seek out similar success entering a new decade in 2010.

Despite losing 11 seniors from last season's squad, a core group of starters at key positions return, including central defender Brice Carr, wing back Kory Trott, midfielder Marcus Ranney and forward Yoni Berhanu. The quartet will serve as the leaders of an otherwise youthful roster featuring 14 underclassmen.

FORWARD
GW's front line took a hit with the loss of three-time NSCAA All-Region selection Andy Stadler, who finished his four-year career among the program's Top 5 in goals and points. Junior striker Yoni Berhanu, the 2008 A-10 Rookie of the Year, is ready and able to fill the vacancy up top. He has already totaled eight goals and nine assists in his two seasons, but more importantly has the skill and stamina to frustrate opponents' back lines. Berhanu has logged the most minutes of any Colonial last season and will need to maintain that work rate as the team's playmaker in 2010.

Just as Berhanu burst onto the scene as a rookie, sophomore forward Seth Rudolph made his presence felt immediately last fall. Three of Rudolph's four goals in 2009 came during league play, including a pair of strikes and the game-winner against Xavier, to earn him A-10 All-Rookie Team distinction. The shifty and speedy frontman will help GW's attack stretch defenses.

Upperclassman Aldin Dervisevic adds experience and depth, while newcomers Jeff Eisenbud, Tyler Ranalli and Francisco Solorzano could be called into regular duty.

MIDFIELD
Marcus Ranney and Mattia Melillo are the two remaining holdovers from last season's senior-laden midfield, but luckily for Lidster both returning starters should provide valuable minutes and scoring ability to the squad this fall. Three-year starter Ranney finished second on the team with five assists in 2009, while Melillo chipped in three assists and logged the most playing time of any GW freshman.

The focus of Lidster's 2010 recruiting class lays, fittingly, in the middle of the pitch, where four freshmen - Andrew Aluko, Bailey Hinners, Alex Sandland and Tobey Wood - will immediately push for spots in the starting XI. Hinners totaled 20 goals and 32 assists over his final two years at Westlake HS in Austin, TX, while Sandland registered 24 goals and six assists and earned area Player of the Year honors as a senior at East Coweta HS near Atlanta. Transfer Zach Abaie, a former Washington Post honorable mention All-Met performer at Stafford High School, arrives from district-rival American and will see his first collegiate action after sitting out his rookie year with the Eagles.

DEFENSE
The Colonials will have the most depth and experience along their back four this season with the return of six letterwinners and addition of two talented freshmen. Brice Carr and junior Jake Davis are back to anchor the central defense, while Trott, juniors Mike Burke and Dave Thompson, and sophomore Jamie LaFleur will patrol the flanks. Carr and Trott were mainstays on the flat-four formation last fall, both logging more than 1,000 minutes, with Trott earning DC College Cup All-Tournament team recognition. Burke and Davis were both hampered by injury in 2009 following rookie seasons that saw each start double-digit matches.

Washington Post First Team All-Met back Abdul Shaban and 6-foot-3 defender Casey Wood provide skill and size to the backline.

GOALKEEPER
Despite being sidelined for much of the season due to injury, second-year Brendan Lafferty enjoyed a solid freshman season and is likely the incumbent starter in goal for the Colonials in 2010. Lafferty started six of his seven matches played and kept three clean sheets while posting a 4-1-0 record.

Athletic 6-foot-5 rookie Devon DuBay could push Lafferty for playing time this fall. DuBay was a Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) First Team All-State pick as a junior at Norfolk Academy.

SCHEDULE
GW will face three NCAA Tournament teams as part of its 18-match regular season in 2010. Lidster will visit his former Washington Stars teammate, John Kerr, and the Duke Blue Devils on Sept. 14 in the Colonials' marquee non-conference match. Lidster and Kerr teamed at the District's former American Soccer League franchise in the late 1980's, leading the Stars to a regular season title in 1989. The Blue Devils reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament in 2009.

A-10 play will see NCAA participants Charlotte (Oct. 15) and Saint Louis (Oct. 17) visit Mount Vernon Field the third weekend of October.

The Colonials begin their 46th season of competition with five straight games away from Mount Vernon, beginning with the 10th annual DC College Cup at American University's Reeves Athletic Complex. GW opens against George Mason on Sept. 1, then battles Howard on Sept. 4.

GW then travels to Atlantic Soccer Conference finalist Longwood on Sept. 8 and Mount St. Mary's on Sept. 11 before its clash at Duke. Defending Big South Conference regular season champion Coastal Carolina kicks off the Mount Vernon home schedule on Sept. 17, followed by Division II UDC eight days later. The Colonials then round out non-conference play with a trip to Navy on Sept. 29 and a home match against Rider during Soccer Alumni Weekend on Oct. 2.

Conference play starts at Richmond on Sept. 9, followed by consecutive home league weekends with Charlotte and Saint Louis and Fordham (Oct. 22) and La Salle (Oct. 24). GW then hits the road for consecutive weekends to complete A-10 play - St. Bonaventure (Oct. 29) and Duquesne (Oct. 31) followed by Temple (Nov. 5) and Saint Joseph's (Nov. 7).

The six-team 2010 A-10 Championship will be held at Charlotte's Transamerica Field Nov. 11-14.