The Binghamton men's soccer team heads into the 2018 campaign with experience, depth and a solid incoming class. The Bearcats return nine starters from last season and has nine seniors on its roster. With the team healthy entering the preseason and with a promising group of newcomers, the Bearcats have high hopes as the regular season gets underway.

"I think everybody is very optimistic about the year ahead right now," Marco said. "We have set some team goals that are pretty lofty. I think that the group is very thirsty to go after those goals. Everybody seems on the same page so I would say that the togetherness and synergy of this group gives this group the potential to be special."

GOALKEEPERS

Redshirt junior Chris Shutler and redshirt sophomore Isaiah Pettis are the two returning goalkeepers. Shutler started in eight matches last season while Pettis started in the Bearcats' win over Bucknell on Oct. 17. Joining them this year are freshman P.J. Parker and senior Gerardo Amigon, a transfer from ASA College.

"Our four goalkeepers are training very well," Marco said. "Chris and Isaiah have looked very good at times. Right now, I'd probably give the edge to Chris but Isaiah has definitely closed that gap (in terms of) training and playing in the matches. Our goalkeeping position is steady and our focus has been on them organizing our defense."

DEFENSE

Kevin Flesch returns for his fourth season as a starter and is the team captain this year. After being named to the America East All-Rookie Team in 2015, he was an all-tournament pick in 2016 and was chosen to the America East All-Academic squad last year. Entering his final season, Flesch will be looked upon for leadership beyond the field of play.

"Kevin has come into camp ready for his senior year," Marco said. "He's shown terrific leadership and is a solid defender. I think he has the potential to be a first-team all-conference type player. He is figuring out how to get the best out of each one of his teammates and I think that could be beneficial to our progress."

Flesch is one of five Bearcats at the center back. Redshirt junior Stephen McKenna, senior Adam Blackwell, sophomore Chris Stamper and redshirt sophomore Kurt Wesch are also in the mix for a starting spot.

Blackwell, Wesch and Stamper are also capable of sliding to the left back position. At outside back, senior Miles Burbank as well as freshman Carter Beaulieu, Matt Barbery  and Aidan Sullivan are the top candidates to start.

"We are extremely deep in the back—perhaps as deep as we've ever been," Marco said. "There are probably eight guys competing to play in three or four spots."

MIDFIELD

Senior Florian Orth returns at the defensive midfield position – the key link between the backline and the Bearcats' attacking players. He was injured for a significant part of last season but was still named the team MVP because of his significant role on the squad.

"Flo is the glue on the field for us," Marco said. "He holds our team together and can dictate the rhythm of the game. He is an impact guy in our group."

Sophomore Noah Luescher and senior Harrison Weilbacher are two other key midfielders, both of whom also struggled with injuries last year. Despite missing the last three matches, Luescher was still named the America East Rookie of the Year, finishing with three goals and five assists. Weilbacher, meanwhile, was out the first seven matches but he looks to rebound in his final campaign.

"Harry and Noah are two very creative players who are good with the soccer ball," Marco said. "Having both of them on the field will be great. They are both buying into what we are asking of them."

Also in the mix to play in the midfield are Sullivan, Beaulieu, Burbank, sophomore Lucas Arzan and freshmen Andrew McDonnell and Kosta Nika.

"We get even deeper as we move into the midfield positions," Marco said. "We have a great group that is very good with the soccer ball and has a good competitive spirit.

FORWARD

Senior Nikos Psarras and junior Haris Brkovic were the top two goal scorers last season, with six and five respectively. Psarras became a starter late in his freshman year and has scored 12 goals since then. Brkovic, meanwhile, is capable of scoring in bunches, having recorded two-goal games against Caniisus (Sept. 23) and Cornell (Sept. 26) last season.

Also returning up front is sophomore Jack Muller who joined Luescher on the America East All-Rookie Team last year. He scored three goals last year, two of which were game winners. His biggest goal came in double overtime of the Bearcats' 1-0 win at Hartford on Oct. 11.

Seniors Chris Nkoghe and Connor McKnight are the other two returning players up front. Joining them are freshmen Ben Hamilton and Juma Byabusha.  

"We have a lot of options up front," Marco said. "Nikos, Haris and Jack have all scored big goals in the past, Connor is looking very good right now and Chris fit in right away last year. Ben and Juma have both shown great potential."

NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Binghamton launches its 2018 season at Drexel on Aug. 24. Four days after facing the Dragons, Binghamton hosts Iona at the Bearcats Sports Complex on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. Other non-conference home games are against Cornell (Aug. 31), Colgate (Sept. 14) and Bucknell (Oct. 16). Colgate advanced to the third round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament.

Also on the road, Binghamton has non-conference games at Monmouth (Sept. 4), Lehigh (Sept. 7), Columbia (Sept. 10), George Washington (Sept. 18) and West Virginia (Oct. 2). Columbia advanced to the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament.

"We like our non-conference schedule this year," Marco said. "We schedule opponents who play a certain style that we are likely to see during conference play. It will really help us get better for the America East matches."

AMERICA EAST SCHEDULE

With two teams having qualified for the NCAA Tournament last year and three teams currently nationally ranked or receiving votes in the polls, the America East continues to be one of the top soccer conferences in the nation.

America East play for the Bearcats begins on Sept. 22 with a 7 p.m. match against Hartford at the Bearcats Sports Complex. Other home conference matches take place against New Hampshire (Sept. 29), Stony Brook (Oct. 6) and Vermont (Oct. 27). The match against the Seawolves will be on Homecoming Weekend. In the 11 previous Homecoming matches at the Bearcats Sports Complex, the Bearcats have drawn an average of 2,000 fans. New Hampshire, meanwhile, advanced to the third round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament while Vermont is the defending America East regular-season champions.

On the road, Binghamton has conference matches at UMass Lowell (Oct. 13), UMBC (Oct. 20) and closes out the regular season at defending conference champion Albany (Oct. 31). The Great Danes advanced to the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament while UMass Lowell was the runner up in the America East Tournament.

This year's America East Tournament starts with the quarterfinal round on Saturday, Nov. 3. The semifinals take place Nov. 7 followed by the championship game on Nov. 11. The top six teams during the regular season advance to the conference tournament.

"We are really looking forward our America East matches this year," Marco said. "We have to keep getting better before that but it is a very competitive conference and we'll keep improving to be prepared for those teams."