Season Preview: Men's Soccer Ready to Defend Ivy Crown

8/30/2016 12:51:00 PM | Men's Soccer

By: Dartmouth

HANOVER, N.H. – Fall is upon us in New England and so is the 2016 Dartmouth men's soccer season. The Big Green come into the 2016 campaign with high expectations as the two-time defending Ivy League champion.

Dartmouth will look to do what no Ancient Eight team has done since the late 80s, which is win three consecutive Ivy League crowns. The last team to do so was Columbia when the Lions won eight titles from 1978-85.

The Big Green begin their season on Sept. 2 in Lexington, Kentucky when Dartmouth takes on the Kentucky Wildcats out of Conference USA.

COACHING STAFF
Entering his fourth season, the reigning Ivy League Coach of the Year, Chad Riley returns to the sidelines for the Big Green. Joining Dartmouth this season is assistant coach, Brian Plotkin, who comes to Hanover after serving as an assistant at Loyola for three years. Also returning for his fourth season is assistant coach Ryan Fahey, where he will continue to work mentoring the team's goalkeepers, amongst other positions.

CAPTIANS
The Big Green are led by captains James Hickok and Emmanuel Arteaga. Also this season, Dartmouth will have three assistant captains, Wyatt Omsberg, Tyler Dowse and Matt Danilack. “We are thrilled with the leaders of this team, I know they will help this group continue its progress towards our potential,” Riley said. “James and Manny will do an excellent job and Wyatt, Tyler and Matt will help them in this endeavor.

CLASS OF 2020
Six players will join the Big Green this season as members of the Class of 2020, they are: Henry Stusnick, Zach Kalk, Will Chisholm, Braden Salvati, Henry Baldwin and Jesse Scanlon.

LOOKING BACK AT 2015
Dartmouth had a lot of success to celebrate last year after the Big Green finished 12-6-1 overall with a 6-1-0 conference record. It was also the team's most wins in a two-year stretch in program history with two back-to-back 12 win seasons. Dartmouth returned to the NCAA College Cup, knocking off Hartwick at home in the first round in a dramatic 1-0 overtime win before falling to Syracuse.

KEY RETURNERS
Despite losing goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland to graduation, the Big Green return several key players from last season. Sophomore Amadu Kunateh will look to build off of 2015's breakout season where the Lynn, Massachusetts, native scored four goals and earned Co-Ivy League Rookie of the Year honors. On the other side of the field, Omsberg will anchor a defense that allowed only 13 goals last season.

PRESEASON ACCOLADES
For the first time under Riley, Dartmouth is ranked in the preseason Top 25 by TopDrawerSoccer.com. The Big Green enter the season at No. 22 after ending 2015 at No. 24. In addition to the preseason ranking, Omsberg was named to the College Soccer News Preseason All-America Third Team and to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Hermann Trophy watch list.

CHAD RILEY'S KEYS TO SUCCESS

1. Connected
“No matter where you want to go as a group you have to begin and never forget the basics. Defending, concentration, and activity level on the field. This is our foundation, we must be a very difficult team to beat, and in order to do this we have to be connected as a team on the field at all times.”

2. Winning Habits
“You also want to quickly create good winning habits. We must be focused and organized and a team that never beats ourselves. The habits we create now will stay with us throughout the season.

3. Mentality
“Our mentality is going to be key. Soccer is a tricky game at times mentally, and we need to focus on competing and improving. We always strive to perform as a team and win. That's always the goal, to put those two things together, have a good performance and figure out a way to win the game you are competing in. And can we have the maturity to take it one day and one game at a time.”