Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Men's Soccer Set for 2016 Season
8.23.16 | Men's Soccer
PHILADELPHIA – Returning to campus with a new facility and riding the momentum of a 10-win season in 2015, Temple men's soccer is set to take the program to a new level in 2016. David MacWilliams, in his 17th year as head coach, looks for strong senior leadership on the team to bring heightened success for the Owls.
"I think we have to learn from last year," said MacWilliams. "We can't rely on what we did previously. Everyone knows we had an opportunity and didn't do as well in conference play. If we had done well in the conference we would have had the chance to grab an at-large bid to the tournament most likely."
The Owls opened the 2015 season going unbeaten through their first eight matches, earning themselves a top-25 national ranking for the first time since 1997. These non-conference wins included a shutout of then-#25 Penn State. Despite the strong start, the season ended with only two conference wins.
Leading the pack in his first season with the Owls was forward Jorge Gomez Sanchez who logged 13 goals, five assists and 31 total points. Gomez Sanchez spent time as a national leader in numerous areas and finished the season as the conference's leader in every overall category outside of assists and assists per game.
Also returning and looking to find the back of the net is sophomore Belal Mohammed. In his freshman season, the Allentown, Pa., native led the team in assists with six, along with three goals of his own. Despite being a key fixture in the back line, senior Carlos Moros Gracia also logged three goals in 2015.
Gomez Sanchez, Mohammed and Moros Gracia were all recognized by the conference for their efforts throughout the 2015 season with Gomez Sanchez and Moros Gracia earning second-team all-conference and Mohammed being named to the conference all-rookie team.
"We have a good team of quality guys," said MacWilliams. "They know that this is our year. They feel pretty positive and know the potential we have. It's just about going out and doing it now. Two areas we definitely have to improve on are defending set pieces and creating more scoring opportunities."
This potential will likely be fed by the Owls' strong group of leaders that includes second-year captain Matt Mahoney. Mahoney, along with five other true seniors and red-shirt juniors Alex Cagle and Mark Grasela, have turned team chemistry around, according to MacWilliams.
"Guys like Matt, Carlos, Stef, Kevin, Jorge, and Dan are quality guys that are going to lead," said MacWilliams. "There are quiet leaders and vocal leaders and that combination really sets the tone for this team. They have embraced their roles as leaders and really changed our culture within just a couple years. It's a huge part of college athletics to have guys like that represent your program."
Coach MacWilliams welcomed three new staff members during the offseason. James Gledhill and Joe Barber both joined the Temple men's soccer family as assistant coaches and Jake Lister, a Temple men's soccer alum, was brought in as the graduate assistant and director of operations.
Nine newcomers were added to the roster for the 2016 season including players from three different countries. Scoring the first goal in the Owls' pair of preseason exhibition matches was Zach Brown, a native of West Orange, N.J. Brown is coming off an impressive senior season at West Orange High School where he scored nine goals and posted 14 assists to lift the team to a 21-2 record.
Brown is joined by eight others including two Owls from overseas. Albert Moreno will be joining the team from Solsona, Spain and George McGee hails from Wolverhampton, England.
The team opens the season with a four-game homestand at the brand new Temple Sports Complex, marking the first true "home" matches for the program.
"I have been here for 16 years and we really haven't played true 'home games' because we haven't played in front of the student body," said MacWilliams. "Finally being on main campus and playing in front of the student body, faculty and administration is really going to help us. Our facility isn't 50 minutes away anymore, it is going to help our guys feel physically and mentally fresh all season long."
After facing Manhattan and Saint Joseph's in August, the Owls host Pittsburgh and Northeastern on Sept. 2 and 4. Temple's first road match will be against Rider on Sept. 10 followed by a mid-week Philadelphia Soccer Six matchup at Drexel on the 13th.
The Owls return home to host Fairfield on Sept. 17 before their conference-opener on the road at UConn. September is closed out with a road game at Penn State on the 27th.
The October slate features five home matches starting with conference rival Memphis and city rival Villanova on Oct. 1 and 4. After road games at #12 SMU, Columbia and Cincinnati, the Owls host Delaware, Tulsa and UCF on Oct. 18, 22 and 29, respectively.
Before heading to the American Athletic Conference Tournament on Nov. 11, Temple men's soccer will close the season at #19 USF on Nov. 5.
"I'm very excited about this team," said MacWilliams. "We have this group of great seniors and some new guys that I really think are going to help us. I'm expecting great things from them this season."
"I think we have to learn from last year," said MacWilliams. "We can't rely on what we did previously. Everyone knows we had an opportunity and didn't do as well in conference play. If we had done well in the conference we would have had the chance to grab an at-large bid to the tournament most likely."
The Owls opened the 2015 season going unbeaten through their first eight matches, earning themselves a top-25 national ranking for the first time since 1997. These non-conference wins included a shutout of then-#25 Penn State. Despite the strong start, the season ended with only two conference wins.
Leading the pack in his first season with the Owls was forward Jorge Gomez Sanchez who logged 13 goals, five assists and 31 total points. Gomez Sanchez spent time as a national leader in numerous areas and finished the season as the conference's leader in every overall category outside of assists and assists per game.
Also returning and looking to find the back of the net is sophomore Belal Mohammed. In his freshman season, the Allentown, Pa., native led the team in assists with six, along with three goals of his own. Despite being a key fixture in the back line, senior Carlos Moros Gracia also logged three goals in 2015.
Gomez Sanchez, Mohammed and Moros Gracia were all recognized by the conference for their efforts throughout the 2015 season with Gomez Sanchez and Moros Gracia earning second-team all-conference and Mohammed being named to the conference all-rookie team.
"We have a good team of quality guys," said MacWilliams. "They know that this is our year. They feel pretty positive and know the potential we have. It's just about going out and doing it now. Two areas we definitely have to improve on are defending set pieces and creating more scoring opportunities."
This potential will likely be fed by the Owls' strong group of leaders that includes second-year captain Matt Mahoney. Mahoney, along with five other true seniors and red-shirt juniors Alex Cagle and Mark Grasela, have turned team chemistry around, according to MacWilliams.
"Guys like Matt, Carlos, Stef, Kevin, Jorge, and Dan are quality guys that are going to lead," said MacWilliams. "There are quiet leaders and vocal leaders and that combination really sets the tone for this team. They have embraced their roles as leaders and really changed our culture within just a couple years. It's a huge part of college athletics to have guys like that represent your program."
Coach MacWilliams welcomed three new staff members during the offseason. James Gledhill and Joe Barber both joined the Temple men's soccer family as assistant coaches and Jake Lister, a Temple men's soccer alum, was brought in as the graduate assistant and director of operations.
Nine newcomers were added to the roster for the 2016 season including players from three different countries. Scoring the first goal in the Owls' pair of preseason exhibition matches was Zach Brown, a native of West Orange, N.J. Brown is coming off an impressive senior season at West Orange High School where he scored nine goals and posted 14 assists to lift the team to a 21-2 record.
Brown is joined by eight others including two Owls from overseas. Albert Moreno will be joining the team from Solsona, Spain and George McGee hails from Wolverhampton, England.
The team opens the season with a four-game homestand at the brand new Temple Sports Complex, marking the first true "home" matches for the program.
"I have been here for 16 years and we really haven't played true 'home games' because we haven't played in front of the student body," said MacWilliams. "Finally being on main campus and playing in front of the student body, faculty and administration is really going to help us. Our facility isn't 50 minutes away anymore, it is going to help our guys feel physically and mentally fresh all season long."
After facing Manhattan and Saint Joseph's in August, the Owls host Pittsburgh and Northeastern on Sept. 2 and 4. Temple's first road match will be against Rider on Sept. 10 followed by a mid-week Philadelphia Soccer Six matchup at Drexel on the 13th.
The Owls return home to host Fairfield on Sept. 17 before their conference-opener on the road at UConn. September is closed out with a road game at Penn State on the 27th.
The October slate features five home matches starting with conference rival Memphis and city rival Villanova on Oct. 1 and 4. After road games at #12 SMU, Columbia and Cincinnati, the Owls host Delaware, Tulsa and UCF on Oct. 18, 22 and 29, respectively.
Before heading to the American Athletic Conference Tournament on Nov. 11, Temple men's soccer will close the season at #19 USF on Nov. 5.
"I'm very excited about this team," said MacWilliams. "We have this group of great seniors and some new guys that I really think are going to help us. I'm expecting great things from them this season."
Players Mentioned
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