Falcons have high expectations

Courtesy of Nick Mallard - Sentinel and Enterprise

FITCHBURG -- The Falcons know there might be a target on their backs this season.

Having won the MASCAC tournament title and a handful of one-goal games in 2014, opponents could be looking to exact revenge on the Fitchburg State men's soccer team. But don't expect anything other than a business-as-usual approach from the Falcons, with objectives that go far beyond anything they accomplished last year.

"A lot of teams we're beating might feel like they should have been beating us. There's probably a target on us," senior midfielder and captain Tom Sorrentino said during Thursday's media day at Elliot Field. We were MASCAC champs, but we were slipping by teams. We might have outplayed them, but we won a lot of one-goal games."

"People saw how talented we actually were and you look at the roster, we only lost three seniors," fellow senior captain Alex Calder said. "We're very competitive now."

In 2014, the eventual MASCAC tournament champions were picked to finish eighth and last in conference play. Despite that, the Falcons posted a 4-3 record against MASCAC foes before entering the postseason.

"We used last season when we were predicted to finish eighth as motivation in every game," Calder said. "We're going to have the same mentality. We're not going to be arrogant about winning or expect to win again. We're just going to go out and give 110 percent, the same as last season."

Last season, the Falcons made their first NCAA Division 3 tournament appearance since 1988 after storming through the final month of the season, winning their final four games -- including three MASCAC tourney games -- without allowing a goal.

Traditionally a sound defensive program, Fitchburg State's offense should see a boost this season, according to head coach Werner Thissen, who says the team has focused on adding "attacking players."

"I'm not so concerned about that any more," Thissen said of the offensive approach. "We should be able to put some balls in the net this year."

Sorrentino notes that the team would love to repeat as MASCAC tournament champion and do a bit better than its showing in 2014, when the Falcons dropped a 2-0 decision to Amherst College in the first round of the Division 3 tourney. It's a sentiment that's shared by every returning member of the team.

"I think we want to get back to that spot and advance a little farther," junior midfielder and captain Steven Martinez said. "We want to show that we can compete with the top NCAA Division 3 competition."

The success of the program has pushed the players and coaches to set their sights higher, Thissen said before his team scrimmaged Rivier at Elliot Field on Thursday.

"We still have to win the regular season title, so that's another goal that we have, and we want to repeat as tournament champions," the coach said. "We want to go a little deeper in the NCAA (tournament), so those are our next objectives."

Among the returning players are senior midfielder Joshua Hofer, who led the Falcons with 17 points last year, and the defensive group of Zachary Tracy, Connor Kneeland and Matan Shmerling, who all saw time last season.

Though the Falcons only lost three players from 2014, there's a definite void from the departure of netminder Aidan Hanratty, striker Simon Vikoler and midfielder Brett Smith -- though former Oakmont Regional star Brett Smith is now a member of the squad.

"We lost three key players in Aidan, Brett and Simon, who were all strong players, but I'm pretty confident in what we have this year," Thissen said. "We have a very deep roster and it's not only depth, it's quality in depth. That's what separates us from last year."

Among the players having to step into the spotlight is sophomore netminder Alex Alzaibak. He'll have big shoes to fill, following Hanratty -- who owns several program records -- but Thissen says he's confident in Alzaibak and the defensive group in front of him. 

"Alex is a returning goalkeeper, but he didn't get in many games because of Aidan," Thissen said." He showed us some good things last year and has improved already this year. He's worked very hard and we're confident he will be a very good goalkeeper for us this year."

The Falcons won't allow inexperience at any position be an excuse this season. The road to a repeat performance won't be easy, but it's a challenge the team is looking forward to.

"We know it's going to be tougher this season, but we've got a good roster," Calder said. "We're just going to go out and play the games."

The team opens the season Sept. 5 at Roger Williams University as part of the Squad Locker Classic. The Falcons return to Elliot Field for their first home game on Sept. 9 when Elms College comes to Fitchburg.

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